The nos. are increasing
disproportionately – newer heights are being reached. India now has 1,53,20,972
– of which 38,98,262 is from Maharashtra and third from a very small state
Delhi 8,77,146 with 23686 in last 24 hours. While Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modiji held a meeting with leading doctors and top
pharma companies, the Delhi Govt which is battling to cater to the need of
oxygen for COVID-19 patients, claimed in the Delhi High Court that one of the
reasons for the shortage of oxygen was diversion to one of the largest states
of the country. Politics is a different ball game – one of blame game for most
!!!
From the eastern tip
Visakhapatnam to West – Mumbai – there are different train routes. Konarak Express emanating from Bhubaneswar
runs via Khurda road, Brahmapur, Ichchapuram, Palasa, Srikakulam, Vizianagaram,
Vizag, Tuni, Samlalkot, Rajahmundry, Eluru, Vijayawada, Khammam, Warangal,
Kazipet, Secundearabad, Wadi, Solapur, Daund, Pune, Lonavala, Kalyan, Thane,
Dadar to Chatrapathi Shivaji Terminus while Visakhapatnam Lokmanya Tilak
Express runs the other route from Vizag – Vizianagaram, Bobbili, Parvatipuram,
Rayagada, Khariar road, Raipur, Durg,
Gondia, Nagpur, Wardha, Akola, Bhusaval, Manmad, Nasik road, Kalyan Jn to
Lokmanya Tilak junction.
Routes are not
relevant – the consignment and the efforts behind are the most important ones !
Kalamboli is one of the
nodes of Navi Mumbai. It is a transportation hub, being situated at the
junction of the Sion-Panvel Highway, NH 48, Panvel By-Pass, NH 66 and
Mumbai-Pune Expressway and is among the biggest iron and steel delivery centers
in India. The terminal of Mumbai-Pune Expressway is at
Kalamboli. It also has Navi Mumbai's largest marble market alongside the Sion
Panvel Highway.
Given the
rapid increase in Covid-19 cases, Oxygen is critical in the treatment of
certain medical conditions in Covid infection – and logistics of moving liquid medical oxygen (LMO) and oxygen
cylinders for patients across India, is of utmost importance. Due to restrictions of height of Road Over
Bridges (ROBs) and Over Head Equipment (OHE) at certain locations, out of the
various specifications of road tankers, the model of road tanker T 1618 with
height of 3320 mm was found feasible to be placed on flat wagons (DBKM) with
height of 1290 mm. Railways immediately explored the technical feasibility of
transportation of LMO. LMO has to be
transported through Roll On Roll Off (RO RO) service with road tankers placed
on flat wagons.
Must appreciate the
urgency and efficiency with which the Central Railway's Mumbai Division has built a ramp within 24 hours at the
Kalamboli Goods Yard for the loading and unloading of oxygen tankers on and
from the train. This facilitates movement of ‘Oxygen Express’ loaded with empty
tanker trucks and the train will move via Vasai Road, Jalgaon, Nagpur, Raipur
Jn to Vizag Steel plant.
The first-ever "Oxygen Express" carrying seven
empty tankers on Monday left Mumbai for Visakhapatnam, where they will be
loaded with liquid medical oxygen for transportation to Maharashtra, reports
said. The move has come as several states face an acute shortage of medical
oxygen amid rising COVID-19. According to a release by the Central Railway, the
Ro-Ro (Roll-On-Roll-Off) train left from the Kalamboli Goods Yard in Navi
Mumbai for the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant at 8:05 pm. At the Visakhapatnam Steel
Plant, the empty tankers will be loaded with liquid medical oxygen and then
brought back to Maharashtra, which is running short of oxygen required to treat
COVID-19 patients.
Great effort
and we must appreciate the Railways and the Govt for this novel initiative.
20.4.2021.
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