New Delhi, Feb 5 (PTI) The Railways spent Rs 39.30 crore during April-December last year to convert its air-conditioned coaches into wards to treat patients with COVID-19 symptoms, the government said on Friday.

In a written reply in Rajya Sabha, Minister of Railways Piyush Goyal said 5,601 coaches were converted into COVID-isolation wards by the Indian Railways to facilitate treatment of coronavirus patients.

"As per information available, 813 coaches were deployed at different stations as requisitioned by state governments. The total expenditure incurred on conversion of coaches into isolation wards and medical units was Rs 39.30 crore during April 2020 to December 2020," he said.

Goyal said zonal divisions of the railways have been advised that COVID-isolation coaches converted from ICF coaches of age profile less than 20 years can be restored back if coaches are needed for operational requirement. There is no requirement of isolation coaches from state governments, he said.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)