First 'Oxygen Express' leaves Mumbai for Visakhapatnam

On Monday, the first-ever "Oxygen Express" containing seven empty tankers departed Mumbai for Visakhapatnam, where they'll be packed with liquid medical oxygen for transport to Maharashtra.

The move comes as many states face a severe shortage of medical oxygen due to an increase in COVID-19 cases in the region. As per a Central Railway release, the Ro-Ro (Roll-On-Roll-Off) train departed the Kalamboli Goods Yard in Navi Mumbai at 8:05 p.m. for the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant.

The empty tankers will be filled with liquid medical oxygen at the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant before being returned to Maharashtra, which is running low on oxygen to treat COVID-19 patients. Within 24 hours, the Central Railway's Mumbai Division constructed a ramp at the Kalamboli Goods Yard for the loading and unloading of oxygen tankers on and off the train.

Furthermore, Anil Parab, the Maharashtra Transport Minister, was also reportedly present when the train left for Vizag. The train will travel to the Vizag Steel Plant via Vasai Road, Jalgaon, Nagpur, and Raipur Junction.

Union Railways Minister Piyush Goyal also tweeted about the service last night. "In its battle against COVID-19, Railways is launching its first Oxygen Express. Today, the Ro-Ro service with seven empty tankers left Kalamboli, Maharashtra, for Vizag. The Oxygen Express will travel through a green corridor to be loaded with Liquid Medical Oxygen" he said.

Railways is running its first Oxygen Express in its fight against COVID-19. The Ro-Ro service with 7 empty tankers departed from Kalamboli, Maharashtra for Vizag today.
Oxygen Express will move via a green corridor for loading with Liquid Medical Oxygen. pic.twitter.com/TonlClDdQf

— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) April 19, 2021

Over the next few days, the Railways expects to run the Oxygen Express across the country, transporting liquid medical oxygen and oxygen cylinders.

The requirement for medical oxygen has recently increased in many states due to an increase in COVID-19 cases. India, the outbreak's second-worst-hit region, is reporting lakhs of new infections and hundreds of fatalities on a daily basis.