Railways ready to modify 20,000 coaches to provide isolation beds to up to 3.2 lakh

New Delhi (31/03/2020) : The Indian Railways has said that it’s ready to modify 20,000 coaches into quarantine/ isolation coaches which can accommodate up to 3.2 lakh possible beds for isolation needs to augment the quarantine facilities being created in the country.

“Consultations were held with Armed Forces Medical Services, Medical Department of various Zonal Railways, and Ayushman Bharat, Ministry of Health, Government of India,” the railways said.

The railways further said that work on modification of 5000 coaches, which are to be converted initially into quarantine/ isolation coaches has already started that has the capacity to accommodate up to 80,000 beds. One coach is expected to have 16 beds for isolation, it added.

Providing further details, the railways said that “Both middle berths are to be removed in each cabin.

Extra bottle holders shall be provided in each cabin for holding medical equipment, two for each berth. Extra 3 peg coat hooks, 2 per cabin to be provided. Mosquito net to be provided on windows to avoid mosquito entry inside and have proper ventilation too. Each cabin will be provided with 3 dustbins with foot-operated lids of red, blue and yellow colour suitably lined with garbage bags.”