Estimated spending Rs 2 lakh on each isolation coach; more special trains to be introduced: Rlys

Railways on Friday said it has estimated a cost of Rs 2 lakh per isolation coach for its maintenance, food and linen for patients on board and protective gear for staff and it has already been allocated Rs 300 crore for same.

Railway Board Chairperson VK Yadav said this was budgetary estimate of national carrier for 5,213 coaches which have been modified as isolation coaches and money for it has already been received from central COVID care fund.

He also said so far a total amount of Rs 620 crore has been sanctioned from fund to Ministry of Railways.

"All se expenses we are getting from COVID fund. We had made an estimation covering mir changes in coaches, linen, food, cleanliness, masks, PPE for staff and we have a rough estimate of Rs 2 lakh per coach. We have already been allocated Rs 300 crore for 5,000 coaches so far. We are monitoring expenses,” he said.

Yadav also pointed out that movement in reverse direction from states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal has begun with migrant workers returning to states that y had left due to coronavirus pandemic.

"We are keeping a watch on occupancy of special trains. Very soon we will begin more special trains depending on demand from states, occupancy, COVID situation," chairperson said.

"It is heartening to see that occupancy in trains from UP, Bihar, West Bengal to big cities is increasing day by day, indicating an improving ecomic situation," he furr said.

He also said that while it may t be possible to run all regular trains in near future given coronavirus situation, more special trains will be introduced soon.

Yadav said Railways has identified 160 projects for returnee migrant workers which will generate around nine lakh mandays of work under Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan in six states.

He also said Railways had operated 4,594 Shramik Specials till June 25 and 62.8 lakh passengers travelled in m since May 1.

Railways has said it will run trains from any place within 24 hours of receiving demand from states.

chairperson also said Railways had completed 200 important works during lockdown period to remove bottlenecks and improve safety.

In reply to a question on status of bullet train project between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, Yadav said 60 per cent of land acquisition has been completed and project is on track.

Im Credits: PTI