Chennai, Mar 27 (IANS): With the shortage in hand sanitisers, masks, aprons and even cots in the market due to the spread of coronavirus pandemic, the various production units under Southern Railway have started making the same for captive use.

The Southern Railway has electric locomotive sheds at Erode and Arakkonam in Tamil Nadu and diesel locomotive shed at Ernakulam in Kerala. It also has the Perambur Locomotive Works and Perambur Carriage & Wagon Works here and Golden Rock Workshop in Trichy.

In a statement issued here, Southern Railway said the Perambur Loco Works has started making hand sanitisers for use in railway offices and hospitals. Initially, five litres have been prepared.

The Perambur Carriage Works has made masks and aprons and is in the process of making cots.

The unit handed over 150 masks and 45 aprons to the Railway Hospital here. The balance 100 masks were handed over for use of staff working in goods trains.

According to Southern Railway, the reusable mask after a clean wash is made of white cotton cloth and is of single layer with elastic ear band and plans are there to manufacture three-layer masks.

Similarly, the Coaching Depot in Basin Bridge here also made masks allowing the lady staff to work from home.

Meanwhile, the Golden Rock Workshop also produced hand sanitisers with average cost of making per litre working out to Rs 570 and would soon start making cots needed for the medical wing.

The Electric Loco Sheds in Erode and Arakkonam and the Diesel Loco Shed in Ernakulam have made hand sanitisers for captive use.