SOUTH Eastern Railway’s divisional units making masks, sanitizers
Ministry of Railways headed by Piyush Goyal has directed the manufacturing facilities of its production units like Chittaranjan Loco Works, Chittaranjan, Integral Coach Factory, Chennai, Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala, Diesel Loco Works, Varanasi, Rail Wheel Factory, Yelehanka, to manufacture essential items for the treatment of the COVID -19 affected people. The ministry has taken the decision in consultation with Production Units and Zonal Railway workshops. The Railway Board has issued instructions to the general managers of these production units to explore the feasibility of manufacture of items like simple hospital beds (without mattress), medical trolleys for hospitals and quarantine facilities, IV stands, stretchers, hospital footsteps, hospital bedside lockers, washbasins with stands, ventilators, PPEs like masks, sanitizers, water tanks etc. As per the policy decision, the divisional units of the Kolkata headquartered South Eastern Railway and Kharagpur workshop have produced over 15,000 masks and 2,500 litres of sanitiser. More masks and sanitisers are being produced at all the units on a war footing, said SE Railway’s Chief Public Relations Officer Sanjoy Ghosh.SER’s in-house production will not only ensure timely supply of the masks and sanitisers to the frontline staff but also result in substantial cost savings, the spokesperson said. The employees who are engaged to ensure movement of essential commodities through freight trains are in urgent need of sanitisers and masks in view of the novel coronavirus threat, he said. South Eastern Railway was producing masks and sanitisers in its own set-up.SER has directed all the four divisions, Kharagpur, Adra, Ranchi and Chakradharpur, to produce masks and sanitisers. More masks and sanitisers are being produced at all the units on a war footing. Meanwhile, there is no clarity about resumption of passenger trains which remain cancelled due to the nationwide lockdown for containing COVID-19 till April 15.(with ZEE NEWS inputs)
