From Sanitising Trains, Stations To Thermal Screening Passengers: How Railways Is Gearing Up To Fight COVID-19

New Delhi: With coronavirus cases in India crossing the 130 mark, the Railways has geared up to minimise the spread of the outbreak by undertaking multiple measures for prevention of COVID 19 infection. According to the Ministry of Railways, railway medical wing and divisional railway managers have been directed to ensure that adequate prevention measures are put in place across all zones of the railways. While talking to NDTV about the efforts being taken up to contain the pandemic, an official from Northern Railways said,

It is being ensured that adequate prevention measures are put in place across the Indian Railway system. We are going through a critical time and it is necessary that each one of us come together to tackle this pandemic. We have sensitized and educated our staff about coronavirus. We have also put posters at prominent spots and are playing audio and video clips in the station and the trains to raise awareness about the outbreak among the passengers.

Also Read: COVID-19 Outbreak: Indian Railways Dedicates A Ward For Coronavirus Suspects

The official further said that hygiene and cleanliness in the station and inside trains are being given utmost importance and the trains and interiors of coaches are being thoroughly sanitised and cleaned regularly.
Ministry of Railways has also shared,

With a view to stop possibility of spread of germs, coaches of suburban trains are being disinfected from time to time with a disinfectant.

Recently, Minister of Railways and Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal shared via his twitter account that thermal screening of passengers is being carried out and help desks are being set up for the passengers to help them get the right information about coronavirus outbreak.

Also Read: Here’s What The Government Means When It Asks You To Practice Social Distancing As A Precaution Against COVID-19

Mr. Goyal also said that railways have started educating and alerting passengers inside trains in Thiruvananthapuram division along with screening them to effectively curb the spread of novel coronavirus.

Apart from sanitising trains and stations and thermal screening the passengers, the Central Railway wing of Indian Railways has also announced an increase in the price of platform ticket from Rs. 10 to Rs. 50 in order to discourage people from crowding at stations and platforms.

Indian Railways which, as per the Ministry of Railways, ferries more than 20 million passengers per day, has also taken steps like withdrawing the facility of providing curtains, blankets and bedsheets in AC coaches so that it doesn’t become the breeding ground of the virus. Railways has also dedicated over 1,000 beds in Railway hospitals for treating suspected coronavirus cases and more than12,000 beds for quarantining them at different locations, as per the Ministry of Railways.

Also Read: Coronavirus 2019: World Health Organization Introduces #SafeHands Challenge To Promote Hand Hygiene And Prevent COVID-19