Bengaluru: Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) is ready to operate ‘oxygen on wheels’ in all districts if Non- Governmental Organisations (NGO), health related organisations, voluntary organisations and hospitals come forward to sponsor oxygen equipment, said Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi, who is also the Transport Minister.

He said all the four Transport Corporations (KSRTC, BMTC, NWKRTC and NEKRTC) were ready to operate these specially designed ‘Oxygen on wheels’ buses in all districts under their jurisdiction, if the sponsors come forward to help. In each bus ten patients can take oxygen at a time. It will be more useful if the buses are stationed near major hospitals, till the patients get admission to the wards. Due to surge in Corona positive patients, providing oxygen to every patient has become challenge for the State Government. In such circumstance, this bus will come in handy to provide temporary relief to patients till doctors start treatment for them, he said. This has proved successful in Bengaluru City, he added.

Savadi said if NGOs are ready to provide oxygen related equipment, the State Transport Corporation was ready to spare buses, drivers and other field staff. Instructions have been given to the authorities of all four Corporations to make necessary arrangements in this regard, he said. 

Those who are interested can contact officers concerned to take forward this initiative.

A Hyderabad-based voluntary service organisation, has come forward to start ‘Oxygen on Wheels’ buses in Karnataka and this matter has been discussed with Health and Medical Education Minister Dr. K. Sudhakar. If the agreement comes through, this will be a boon for those patients who are gasping for breath due to Corona infection, he added.