New Delhi|HL
Special train called ‘Terminator train’ will be launched by municipal corporations and Northern Railways to spray the larvicide to combat mosquito borne diseases.
To fight with diseases like Dengue and Chikungunya in areas near to railway tracks this train will start running on September 23 for the period of two months.
“We have taken a host of decisions to target the most vulnerable areas. This train will comprehensively curb the mosquito breeding sites which have come up near the tracks,” a senior municipal official said.
‘Terminator’ is a low lying platform added to the last wagon of the train, on top of which a high pressure spraying truck is mounted. The spraying machine can cover areas up to 50m with the nozzle. Each civic body will provide its own equipment while the train passes through its jurisdiction.
The train will take three routes – Tughlaqabad, Ambala line and Anand Vihar. Nizamuddin, Lajpat Nagar, Shahadra, Delhi Cantonment, Palam, Safdarjung , Lajpat Nagar and Adarsh Nagar along with some sites within NCR will be covered in the total 120km route.
“The train will also run on the ring railway route which has a lot of encroachments and are high risk zones. Even though encroachers are prohibited, it is our social duty to take care of them,” said Arun Arora, divisional railway manager.
The drive will be flagged off from the New Delhi railway station. Reeling under the pressure of mosquito borne diseases, the city has already notified 1,158 dengue and 1,057 chikungunya cases.
