Ministry of Railways

Conversion of Coaches into Covid Care Units

Posted On: 16 SEP 2020 5:09PM by PIB Delhi

In terms of Ministry of Home Affairs’ guidelines dated 01.05.2020 and based on requests from the State Governments, Indian Railways operated Shramik Special trains w.e.f. 01.05.2020. In order to gradually reintroduce passenger services, Indian Railways resumed passenger train operations by operating 15 pairs of special trains w.e.f. 12.05.2020 and by operating 100 pairs of trains w.e.f. 01.06.2020. Further, 43 pairs of special trains have been introduced w.e.f. 12.09.2020. At present, only special trains are being operated with limited stoppages, keeping in view the concerns and suggestions of the State Governments, to facilitate management of COVID-19 Pandemic protocol.

Indian Railways had converted 5231 Nos. of Non-AC ICF coaches into isolation coaches temporarily as COVID-19 isolation units during lockdown crisis. Zone wise status is as under:

 

SN

Zonal Railways

Nos. of Coaches Converted into isolation coaches.

 

1

Central Railway

482

 

2

Eastern Railway

380

 

3

East Central Railway

269

 

4

East Coast Railway

261

 

5

Northern Railway

540

 

6

North Central Railway

130

 

7

North Eastern Railway

217

 

8

Northeast Frontier Railway

315

 

9

North Western Railway

266

 

10

Southern Railway

573

 

11

South Central Railway

486

 

12

South Eastern Railway

338

 

13

South East Central Railway

111

 

14

South Western Railway

320

 

15

Western Railway

410

 

16

West Central Railway

133

 

Total

5231

 

As per their requisition, 813 coaches are provided to the State Governments as on 12.09.2020. Subject to their residual codal life, these coaches shall be restored to passenger services when the requirement of these coaches to serve as isolation centres is fulfilled.

This information was given by the Minister of Railways and Commerce & Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

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