RITES to supply hospital trains to Congo

New Delhi, Apr 11 (UNI) RITES Limited, a Mini Ratna public sector enterprise of the Railway Ministry, has signed a contract with Congo for the supply of two 'hospital trains', similar to India's own Lifeline Express, and equipped with major medical facilities, including operation theatre and ICU.

The contract covers design, development, manufacture, supply and commissioning of these trains in the African country.

Besides operation theatre and ICU, the trains will have radiology testing, diagnostic facilities for medicine, ENT, eye, dentistry, orthopaedic, gynaecology and recovery room.

''These facilities will be utilised for rendering medical aid to the people residing in remote areas, who are deprived of such facilities. The Hospital Trains will also be equipped with a self-sustained power generating system to ensure their round the clock working,'' a RITES official said.

The scale of facilities being planned in the Hospital Train will be at par with what is already available in the Lifeline Express running in India.

The official said these trains for Congo were being designed for cape gauge track, which would open more such opportunities for development of similar facilities in other developing countries.

UNI/SKS MIR HT1820