NFR to place COVID care train coaches in Silchar and 19 other stations

Ministry of Railways has converted its 5231 coaches as COVID Care Centers. The Coaches can be used for very mild cases that can be clinically assigned to the COVID Care centers as per guidelines issued by MoHFW. These coaches can be used in areas where the State has exhausted the facilities and needs to augment capacities for isolation of both suspects and confirmed COVID cases.

Sustaining the fight against Covid-19, Indian Railways is making an all-out effort to supplement the health care efforts of the Government of India. Indian Railways has geared up to provide its 5231 COVID Care Centers to the State. Zonal Railways has converted these coaches for quarantine facilities.

Out of 215 stations, Railways will provide healthcare facilities in 85 stations. In 130 stations, States can request for COVID care coaches only if they agree to provide staff and essential medicines that may be required. Indian Railways has kept 158 stations ready with watering and charging facility and 58 stations with watering facility for these COVID Care centers.

In the NFR area, these coaches are ready for placement at 20(twenty) nominated stations, viz. Agartala, Alipurduar Jn, Ambasa, Badarpur, Dibrugarh, Guwahati, Kamakhya, Katihar, Lumding, New Bongaigaon, New Cooch Behar, New Jalpaiguri, New Tinsukia, Rangapara North, Rangiya, Silchar, Mariani, Murkongselek, New Alipurduar and Siliguri stations as and when such requests are received.

The guidelines issued by MoHWF regarding the use of such coaches will be strictly followed upon by both the Railway and State Govt authorities.

Apart from COVID care centers, Indian Railways will deploy more than 2500 Doctors and 35000 paramedic staff to meet the COVID 19 challenge. Doctors and paramedics are being recruited on a temporary basis by various zones. Around 5,000 beds in 17 dedicated hospitals and 33 hospital blocks in Railway Hospitals identified for treatment of COVID-19 patients are getting ready any contingency.

As per the guidelines of MoHFW, State Governments would send the requisition to Railways. Railways will make the allocation of these coaches to the State/UTs. After allocation by Railways, the train shall be placed, at the required station with necessary infrastructure, and handed over to District Collector/Magistrate or one of their authorized persons. Wherever the train is placed, watering, electricity, repairs required, catering arrangements, the security shall be taken care of by Railways.