The railways has spruced up its COVID-19 rail coaches in anticipation of a request from the city administration that is facing a shortage of hospital beds and centres. Officials said the coaches can be put to use within 24 hours.

While the Western Railway has about 152 coaches, the Central Railway has readied 48. Each coach can accommodate 16 patients. The rail cars have been kept as a standby for emergency quarantine treatment. These can also be moved to towns near villages if required.