Covid-19 Latest Update: Indian Railways Oxygen Express Train to Supply Medical Oxygen to Maharashtra

As per a PTI report, the Indian Railways' Oxygen Express train featuring seven tankers departed from Kalamboli goods yard in Navi Mumbai on April 19 to reach Vizag. Here, the train will be loaded with medical oxygen for supply to Maharashtra. Railways Minister Piyush Goyal announced the Oxygen Express train service on the evening of April 18. For this, the Central Railway at Kalamboli build a ramp overnight for the facilitation of loading of roll-on-roll-off oxygen trucks on the Express.  

The Indian Army has funded the rolling stock. It is maintained by the Indian Railways. A statement by the Indian Railways, ""The roll-on-roll-off service with seven empty tankers departed from Kalamboli goods yard for Visakhapatnam steel plant siding at 8.05 pm today. This train will move via Vasai Road, Jalgaon, Nagpur, Raipur Junction to Visakhapatnam steel plant siding in East Coast Railway zone where it will be loaded with liquid medical oxygen." 

According to an official report, earlier, state governments of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh had approached the Railways Ministry to find a way to transport liquid oxygen tankers through railways. The Railways then explored options and the roll-on-roll-off service with road tankers placed on train's flat wagons was finalized.  

An official said, "We hope to begin operations of Oxygen Express over the next few days. We would be able to send oxygen wherever there is such demand. Green corridor is being created for fast movement of Oxygen Express trains."