Uttar Pradesh tags 38 oxygen tankers for real-time supply tracking

NEW DELHI: In less than 48 hours, Uttar Pradesh tagged 38 oxygen tankers for real-time tracking and another 20 are to be added by Monday night. The tankers, spread across UP and neighbouring states, were tagged by installing tracking devices that were then monitored by official teams.
UP government implemented the ‘Oxygen Monitoring System’ responding to the need to optimise utilization of 1,700-odd cryogenic tankers in the country to transport liquid medical oxygen amid the second surge of Covid-19.
The government is adding more such tankers to meet the growing demand.
On Saturday, additional chief secretary (home) in the UP government, Awanish Awasthi had made a presentation of the state’s initiative before a high powered group headed by road transport secretary Giridhar Aramane. States including Maharashtra, Punjab, Bihar and Tamil Nadu showed interest in the initiative.
Giving details of the process, Raj Kumar, managing director of Rodic Consultants, which has designed the system, told TOI, “We identified that the major supply of medical oxygen to state comes from the eastern sector (Odisha and Jharkhand) and from Modi Nagar, Bareli and Noida within the state. We sent teams from different locations with tracking devices so that they could install them even when the tankers are running. There was no time to call them to particular locations and install the devices.”
He added that the state government put its machinery behind the system and each tanker was followed by a vehicle with extra drivers so that the vehicle carrying oxygen could run non-stop. The tankers are escorted by local officers to ensure seamless movement.
“Now, we will start digitising the demand side by tagging hospitals so that there is centralised monitoring of oxygen availability in hospitals to meet the requirement. This model can be replicated quickly in other states,” Raj Kumar said.
Under the ‘Oxygen Monitoring System’, a web portal link has been created which can be used by officers and employees associated with the oxygen supply chain.
Representatives of the company are required to upload the oxygen requirement details of hospitals on the portal. Once the request is uploaded, the nearest vehicle engaged in oxygen supply will be sent to the hospital. The online system aims to solve the issue of demand for oxygen and save the time taken to reach the scheduled Jvehicle.