Facility for Disabled and Senior Citizens on Trains and at Railway Stations

Facility for Disabled and Senior Citizens on Trains and at Railway Stations

Instructions exist for provision of Wheel Chair at stations. This facility is provided, duly escorted by coolies (on payment) as per present practice.

Almost all the Mail/Express trains (except special type of trains like Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Janshatabdi, AC Special, Duronto) including Garib Rath trains have been provided with at least one disabled friendly coach. SLRD (Second Class Cum Luggage Cum Guard Van & Disabled friendly compartment) coaches and Power Cars for Garib Rath trains having provisions for PWD (Persons with Disability) Compartment with air-conditioning are already in service. These coaches have wider entrance doors for wheelchair access. Besides, following features are also provided:

i) Wider entrance doors of 920 mm width against 782 mm in conventional body side doors.
ii) Handrails on side walls for providing assistance to the disabled.
iii) Wider aisle of 1050 mm instead of usual 570 mm (the seats alongside the sidewall have been removed).
iv) Wider cushioned Berths – 707 mm instead of 607 mm in conventional coaches.
v) To accommodate wheel chairs, space between berths increased to 1201 mm against usual 542 mm.
vi) Larger Lavatory: 1947 mm square instead of 1540 mm x1189 mm.
vii) Wider lavatory door provided: 840 mm instead of usual 520 mm.
viii) Additional grab rails provided in the lavatory.
ix) Lower height of wash basin and mirror in the toilet.

Zonal Railways have been authorised to introduce ‘Battery Operated Vehicles’ at major Railway Stations for Disabled, Old Aged and sick Passengers on first come first served basis through sponsorship from individuals, NGOs, trusts, Charitable institutions, Corporates and PSUs/Corporate Houses under their Corporate Social Responsibility with no charge to passenger or to the Railway.

Provision/augmentation of amenities at stations, including those for differently abled passengers is a continuous process. In order to provide better accessibility to differently abled passengers, short term facilities as detailed below have been planned at all stations:

· Standard ramp for barrier free entry.
· Earmarking at least two parking lots.
· Non-slippery walk-way from parking lot to building.
· Signages of appropriate visibility.
· At least one toilet (on the ground floor).
· At least one drinking water tap suitable for use by differently-abled persons.
· ‘May I help you’ Booth.

In addition, long term facilities as detailed below have been planned at ‘A-1’, ‘A’ & ‘B’ category stations:

· Provision of facility for inter-platform transfer.
· Engraving on edges of platform.

Instructions have been issued to zonal railways for providing above facilities at all ‘A-1’ category stations by July 2016 and to provide all identified short term facilities at 50% of stations by March 2018.

This Press Release based on information given by the Minister of State for Railways Shri Manoj Sinha in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha on 29.04.2016 (Friday).

PIB