Railways can set up three lakh isolation beds across the country on States’ demand. In a tweet, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said that 50 COVID-19 isolation coaches with 800 beds ready at Shakur Basti Station and 25 coaches will be available at Anand Vihar Station in Delhi.
Earlier, Northern Railway, General Manager Ashutosh Gangal has said that 463 COVID isolation coaches across its network which are available on demand from the States. Talking to the media, he said that Railways has already written letters to Chief Secretaries of the States where these coaches can be deployed.
He said, if any states have requirements then they can approach the Railways. He said, these coaches are primarily meant for isolation and also for very mild cases if required. Ashutosh Gangal said, these coaches are not meant for serious cases. He said, each isolation coach has two cylinders and if more is needed, the state government has to arrange it. He also informed that Railways will not charge anything from states for COVID isolation coaches as Union Health Ministry guidelines have no provision for levying fees.