New Delhi: In order to provide better accessibility to Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), short term facilities as detailed below have been planned at all stations, beginning with ‘A-1’, ‘A’ & ‘B’ category stations:
- Standard ramp for barrier free entry.
- Earmarking at least two parking lots.
- Non-slippery walk-way from parking lot to station building.
- Signages of appropriate visibility.
- At least one drinking water tap suitable for use by Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan).
- At least one toilet (on the ground floor).
- ‘May I help you’ Booth.
In addition, long term facilities, as detailed below, have been planned at ‘A-1’, ‘A’ & ‘B’ category stations:
- Engraving on edges of platform.
- Provision of facility for inter-platform transfer.
There are 709 ‘A-1’, ‘A’ & ‘B’ category stations catering to the bulk of passenger traffic on Indian Railways, out of which 667 stations have been provided with all short-term facilities. Details of railway stations provided with facilities for Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) under all categories of stations are given below:-
| S.No. | Facility for Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) | Approximate
number of stations, where facility provided |
|
1.
|
Standard ramp for barrier free entry | 2435 |
|
2.
|
Earmarking at least two parking lots | 1360 |
|
3.
|
Non-slippery walk-way from parking lot to station building | 1415 |
|
4.
|
Signages of appropriate visibility | 1435 |
|
5.
|
At least one drinking water tap suitable
for use by Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) |
1870 |
|
6.
|
At least one toilet (on the ground floor) | 1820 |
|
7.
|
May I help you booth | 1090 |
|
8.
|
Engraving on edges of platforms | 1785 |
|
9.
|
Provision of facility for inter-platform transfer | 1240 |
In order to facilitate easy movement of elderly, sick and Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) and for smooth access to platforms at major railway stations, 473 escalators at 171 stations and 330 lifts at 137 stations have been provided so far. Further, work is in progress for 303 nos. of escalators at 115 stations and 306 nos. of lifts at 98 stations. Additionally 372 escalators have been sanctioned for Mumbai Sub-urban sections in financial year 2017-18 on Out-of-Turn basis.
Further, in the Budget 2017-18, it has been announced by Hon’ble Finance Minister that about 500 stations shall be provided with escalators/lifts progressively as part of “Saugamya Bharat Mission” at all ‘A-1’, ‘A’ & ‘C’ category stations with footfall of 25,000 and above and stations of tourist importance. The proposal for the same has been approved at a cost of `2589 crores for escalators and `404 crores for lifts.
This information was given by the Minister of State of Railways Shri Rajen Gohain in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
