India: As per the announcement, Railways has initiated its ‘Oxygen Express’ program to deliver oxygen across the states. The first “Oxygen Express” carrying seven empty tankers left from near Mumbai on Monday for Visakhapatnam, where they will be loaded with liquid oxygen for transportation to Maharashtra.
According to a Central Railway release, the Ro-Ro (roll-on-roll-off) train with seven empty tankers left for the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant from Kalamboli goods yard in Navi Mumbai, about 40km from state capital Mumbai, at 8:05 pm.
At Visakhapatnam Steel Plant these tankers will be filled with liquid medical oxygen and sent back to Maharashtra. This development came after several states reported a shortage of oxygen amidst the surge.
“Railways is running its first Oxygen Express in its fight against COVID-19. The Ro-Ro service with 7 empty tankers departed from Kalamboli, Maharashtra for Vizag today. Oxygen Express will move via a green corridor for loading with Liquid Medical Oxygen,” Railway Minister Piyush Goyal tweeted. The CR’s Mumbai Division has built a ramp within 24 hours at Kalamboli goods yard to facilitate loading and unloading of tankers in and from flat wagons.
Sources reveal the “Oxygen Express” program was solicited by Maharashtra Transport Minister Anil Parab when the train left for the port city in Andhra Pradesh.
The Centre announced the program on Sunday, to balance the oxygen disparities looming over several states. Under the initiative, empty tankers will be loaded with liquid medical oxygen from Visakhapatnam, Jamshedpur, Rourkela and Bokaro for supply all over the country.