Question : FACILITIES FOR DISABLED AND SENIOR CITIZENS

(a) the existing facilities being extended to physically handicapped and senior citizen passengers in trains and at railway stations including booking counters;

(b) whether there is any proposal to enhance the various facilities to such category of persons including provision of separate modified reserved coaches exclusively for the physically handicapped in all the trains;

(c) if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the toilets and wash basins in the existing portions of coaches for the physically handicapped are designed keeping in mind the special needs of the disabled; and

(e) if so, the details thereof including the details of separate ticket counters, bathroom/toilet facilities and wheel chairs being provided in all railway stations to these sections of the society?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS(SHRI K.H. MUNIYAPPA)

(a) Railways have granted various facilities to senior citizens and physically handicapped persons which include concession in fares, earmarking of separate reservation quota, earmarking of reservation counters at major computerized Passenger Reservation System (PRS) centres, provision of wheel chair & Battery Operated Vehicles etc.

Short term facilities viz. standard ramp with railing for barrier free entry, earmarking at least two parking lots for vehicles used by disabled persons, non-slippery walkway from parking lot to building, signages of appropriate visibility, at least one drinking water tap suitable for use by a disabled person, at least one toilet on the ground floor, “May I help you” booth; and long term facilities viz. inter-platform transfer, engraving on edges of platforms, are to be provided at all stations in a phased manner.

Short term facilities have already been provided at all A1 & A category stations, and are now being extended to all B category stations. Long term facilities are planned to be taken up after provision of short-term facilities.

Indian Railways have already manufactured about 2100 coaches which have suitably designed compartment & toilet adapted to the needs of the wheel chair borne/persons with disabilities. Fully air conditioned Garib Rath trains have been provided with Air conditioned disabled friendly compartment & toilet in the power cars.

(b) & (c) Provision/enhancement of facilities for all category of passengers including senior citizens is a continuous process.

Almost all Mail/Express trains (except special type of trains like Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Janshatabdi, AC Special, Duronto Express) including Garib Rath trains have been provided with one specially designed disabled friendly coach. Besides, attachment of such coaches is an ongoing process and efforts are on to provide such coaches in all Mail/Express trains as also in short distance passenger trains.

(d) Yes, Madam. The toilets in the specially designed coaches with one compartment for persons with disabilities have been designed keeping in view the special needs of the persons with disabilities.

(e) For persons with disabilities in the coaches, wider entrance door for entry of wheel chair borne passengers, Wider berths, Wider compartments, space for provision of Wheel chair, Larger lavatory with wider lavatory doors provided. Inside the toilets, additional grab rails on the side walls for support,wash basin and mirror at lower height have been provided.