Central Railway flags off Lifeline Express, hospital on wheels, from Mumbai's CSMT station to Bihar

MUMBAI: The Central Railway on Friday launched a revamped Lifeline Express --Hospital on Wheels -- at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus. The train which later left for Bihar in the evening, was flagged off by CR general manager Naresh Lalwani.

It may be recalled that Indian Railways in partnership with Impact India Foundation had introduced the Lifeline Express, the world’s first hospital on wheels, on July 16 1991 from CSMT station with the aim of providing medical care to the poor free of cost in the most remote corners of the country.

The 7 coach train equipped with the state of the art technology has on board the most advanced medical equipment and a dedicated team of medical professionals to treat patients and even perform surgeries. "The Lifeline Express has travelled across 19 states of India, covering 201 rural locations in 138 districts providing medical treatment to 12.32 lakh patients including 1.46 lakh cases of surgery," said a senior CR official.

In Maharashtra it has conducted projects at Ratnagiri, Balharshah and Latur in the past two years.