The Dhanbad division of the East Central Railway is almost set to run the Dhanbad-Alappuzha Express from January 1, following an approval from the Railway Board.

The Dhanbad division had proposed to run the train with a full rake of 22 coaches from January 1, the notification regarding which is likely to be made in a day or two.

Talking about the development, Ranjit Datta, in-charge of the Dhanbad Rail Coach Depot said, “We have already prepared three rakes of 22 coaches each while preparations of setting up a fourth rake are underway.”

A total of six rakes of 22 coaches each will be prepared for the new arrangement, he added.

“We have not received any written order but have been instructed verbally to prepare the rakes as the service is likely to resume from January 1,” Datta further said.

The train, which serves as a lifeline for patients of Dhanbad, Bokaro, Giridih, Chhatra and others, used to operate with just 12 rakes. Half the rakes used to run from the Tatanagar Railway Station.

Expressing happiness over the development, social worker and former president of Bartand Chamber of Commerce Kumar Madhurendra Singh said, “The suspension of trains since the last nine months was causing a lot of difficulty for the patients heading to south Indian hospitals.”

“We are happy to learn that the railway has prepared to operate the train with full 22 coaches but also request the Railway administration to make special arrangements for sanitisation and ensure availability of sanitisers in sufficient quantity in each coach. This train is among the very few that carries the majority of patients. So it is important to ensure that they do not get infected,” Singh added.

He said that full sanitisation should be ensured at all important stations, and the train should make longer halts.

“Senior Divisional Commercial Manager of Dhanbad Division of East Central Railway, Akhilesh Kumar Pandey, said, “ We have not received any notification from the railway board so we can’t say that from when the trains will operate. However, we have sent a proposal to the railway board and hope for a nod soon, as the preparations to run the train are in full blow.”