27 February,2015 07:15 AM IST | | Shashank Rao
Lifts and escalators are being proposed at major stations to facilitate easy movement, and building wider doors for long-distance trains is also being looked into; all trains will also be ‘Braille enabled’
The railways is batting for senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) to ensure that their travel is smooth and easy. The Railway Budget yesterday proposed a host of measures to make long-distance trains more accessible. Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu announced the provision of lifts and escalators at major stations to facilitate easy movement of the elderly and PWDs.
Rs 120 crore has been provided for this purpose. "All newly manufactured coaches will henceforth be Braille enabled, and Rail Coach Factory has been asked to explore the possibility of building wider entrances for the ease of differently-abled passengers," said Prabhu.
With the reservation charts etc also being made available in Braille, the Railways will be making a provision for the blind for the first time. The ladders in long-distance trains, which pose a big barrier for senior citizens and PWDs, will be replaced with user-friendly ones. A folding ladder would be made available in coaches for easy climbing.
The Railways has already approached the National Institute of Design for this purpose. As a short-term measure, the Railways has proposed increasing the quota of lower berths for senior citizens. Ticket checkers will also be instructed to help senior citizens, pregnant women, and PWDs obtain lower berths.
The middle berths of coaches will be reserved for women and senior citizens for safety reasons. Wheelchairs can soon be booked online for senior citizens, patients, and PWDs, through IRCTC at select stations. So far, 1,052 stations have been identified for upgradation of Passenger Amenities at Station under the Adarsh Stations scheme.
It is proposed to include 200 more stations in the scheme. Online booking of retiring rooms has already been initiated, and, now, a facility of self-operated lockers will also be made available at stations. Sources said concierge services will also be made available through IRCTC at major stations.
