The first Oxygen Express to Karnataka transporting six cryogenic containers of medical oxygen pulled into Bengaluru at 9.35 am. The train left from Tatanagar at 3:00 am. Each cryogenic container carried 20 tonnes of liquid medical oxygen.
A signal free 'Green Corridor', created by the railways for the Oxygen Express ensured that there were no stoppages en route. It covered a distance of 1,833 km at an average speed of 55.66 kmph and arrived in Bengaluru in 29 hours 35 minutes.
To facilitate movement of tankers, the SWR had built a ramp in Whitefield. If required, the officials will also use facilities at Doddaballapur for transportation of oxygen tankers in future.
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In the first week of May, Chief Secretary of the State P. Ravi Kumar had written a letter to the Railway Board requesting operations of oxygen express to mitigate shortage of liquid oxygen in the State.