Visakhapatnam: Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu has lauded Indian Railways for rising to the occasion during the pandemic and coming up with novel efforts to ‘keep the wheels running and customers protected’ from the unprecedented challenges posed by Covid-19.

Giving the instance of Covid-19 care isolation coaches, Shramik special trains, and ‘Oxygen Expresses,’ Naidu said the Indian Railways geared up its entire machinery and helped the country to effectively tackle the pandemic.

The Vice President also complimented the Railways for the in-house development and production of PPEs, coveralls, hand sanitizers and masks, and ensuring the transport of medical equipment and general goods to cities and villages.

“Thanks to this proactive stance, shortages of goods and food stocks have been largely minimized. Thus, the Railways have not only helped the nation to effectively tackle the pandemic but proved to be an essential lifeline in times of need,” said Naidu while speaking after flagging off  Visakhapatnam-Kirandul passenger train with upgraded linke hofmann busch rake and additional vistadome coaches.

Muttamsetti Srinivasa Rao, Minister, Government of Andhra Pradesh, MVV Satyanarayana, Member, Lok Sabha, Archana Joshi, General Manager, East Coast Railway, Anup Kumar Satpathy, DRM, Waltair and other dignitaries participated in the event. /BI/