South Western Railway is gearing up to convert 312 coaches into isolation and quarantine wards. They will be modified as per the prototype approved by the Railway Board, SWR said in a release on Tuesday. An official said the modification of coaches began on Tuesday, and it will benefit 2,400 people.
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As per the prototype, middle berths and ladders will be removed for better comfort and space. They will also be equipped to hold oxygen cylinders, and will have electric sockets. Two bathrooms and two lavatories are provided diagonally in the coach, which will also have charging points for mobile phones and laptops.
“Indian Railways is planning to initially modify 5,000 passenger coaches to meet the requirement of any possible exigency. This has been possible due to the nationwide lockdown from March 25 and Indian Railways has suspended all passenger train services across the country,” the release stated.
Around 120 coaches will be converted at the Hubballi workshop and another 120 at the Mysuru workshop. Depots in Hubballi, Bengaluru, Yeshwantpur, and Mysuru will convert 18 coaches each.
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The work is expected to be completed by April 15. A total of 240 people are working on the modifications. An SWR official said 2,400 beds would be provided in the 312 modified coaches.