Lok Sabha Question No. 1212 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-23
Subject: Facilities for the Differently Abled Persons
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: JUGAL KISHORE SHARMA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1212 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.11.2016

## FACILITIES FOR THE DIFFERENTLY ABLED PERSONS

†1212.   SHRI JUGAL KISHORE:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the facilities being provided to differently abled people at railway stations and trains along with details of different category of railway stations;
- (b)  whether  Railways  proposes  to  develop  'B'  category  stations  in the whole country into differently abled people friendly stations;
- (c)  if so, the details of the stations identified for this purpose, zonewise;
- (d) whether  escalators/lifts are being installed at the railway stations  all  over  the  country  for  easy  approach  to  the  footover bridges for senior citizens; and
- (e)  if  so,  the  number  of  stations  where  these  facilities  have  been provided upto now, zone-wise?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.1212  BY  SHRI  JUGAL  KISHORE  TO BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  23.11.2016  REGARDING FACILITIES FOR THE DIFFERENTLY ABLED PERSONS

(a)  to  (e):  Improvement/augmentation  of  amenities  at  stations, including those for differently abled passengers is a continuous process.  In  order  to  provide  better  accessibility  to  passengers with  disabilities,  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 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 also been planned at 'A-1', 'A' & 'B' category stations:-

-  Provision of facility for inter-platform transfer
-  Engraving on edges of platform

Zone-wise  details  of  'A-1',  'A'  &  'B'  category  stations  are appended.

Instructions  also  exist  for  provision  of  Wheel  Chair  at stations.  This  facility  is  provided,  duly  escorted  by  coolies  (on payment)  as  per  present  practice.  Moreover,  Zonal  Railways have  been  authorized  to  introduce  'Battery  Operated  Vehicles' at  major  Railway  Stations  for  Disabled,  Old  Aged  and  sick passengers on first come first served basis.

Indian Railways have manufactured about 3450 SLRD/SRD coaches  (SLRD-Second  Class  Cum  Luggage  Cum  Guard  Van  & Disabled  friendly  compartment,  SRD-  Second  Class  Cum  Guard Van  &  Disabled  friendly  compartment)  which  have  a  suitably designed compartment & toilet adapted to the needs of disabled/wheel chair borne passengers. In SLRD coaches, wider entrance door for wheel chair borne passengers, wider berths, wider compartments, space for provision of Wheel chair, larger lavatory  and  lavatory  doors  have  been  provided.  Inside  the toilets, additional grab rails on the side walls for support, wash basin and mirror at lower height have provided. It is endeavored to have at least one such coach in each Mail/Express train.

Further,  the  fully  air  conditioned  Garib  Rath  trains  have been provided with an Air conditioned disabled friendly compartment  &  toilets  in  the  power  cars.  For  assistance  to visually  impaired  travelers,  Braille  signages  are  now  being provided in newly manufactured coaches.

In order to facilitate easy movement of elderly and differently abled passengers, as per the existing guidelines, 'A-1' category  stations  qualify  for  provision  of  escalators/elevators while 'A' category, 'C' category and stations of tourist importance  qualify  for  provision  of  escalators  under  'Desirable Amenities'.  So  far,  316  no.  of  escalators  at  129  stations  &  178 no.  of  lifts  at  79  stations  have  been  provided  across  Indian Railways.  Provision  of  lifts  and  escalators  at  stations  is  a continuous process and is done as per need, priority of work and availability of funds. The zone-wise details of stations where lifts and escalators have been provided are appended.

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APPENDIX  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1212 BY SHRI JUGAL KISHORE TO BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  23.11.2016  REGARDING FACILITIES FOR THE DIFFERENTLY ABLED PERSONS Zone-wise details of 'A-1', 'A' & 'B' category stations

| S.No.   | Railway            | Category stations   | Category stations   | Category stations   | Total   |
|---------|--------------------|---------------------|---------------------|---------------------|---------|
|         |                    | A-1                 | A                   | B                   |         |
| 1       | Central            | 8                   | 26                  | 14                  | 48      |
| 2       | East Coast         | 3                   | 10                  | 34                  | 47      |
| 3       | East Central       | 6                   | 29                  | 23                  | 58      |
| 4       | Eastern            | 3                   | 12                  | 10                  | 25      |
| 5       | North Central      | 6                   | 14                  | 10                  | 30      |
| 6       | North Eastern      | 3                   | 11                  | 22                  | 36      |
| 7       | Northeast Frontier | 2                   | 20                  | 21                  | 43      |
| 8       | Northern           | 14                  | 49                  | 25                  | 88      |
| 9       | North Western      | 3                   | 22                  | 12                  | 37      |
| 10      | South Central      | 5                   | 31                  | 38                  | 74      |
| 11      | South East Central | 2                   | 6                   | 14                  | 22      |
| 12      | South Eastern      | 2                   | 8                   | 5                   | 15      |
| 13      | Southern           | 8                   | 42                  | 25                  | 75      |
| 14      | South Western      | 2                   | 15                  | 17                  | 34      |
| 15      | West Central       | 2                   | 15                  | 14                  | 31      |
| 16      | Western            | 6                   | 22                  | 18                  | 46      |
|         | Total              | 75                  | 332                 | 302                 | 709     |

Zone-wise details of stations where lifts and escalators have been provided

|   S.No. | Railway               |   No. of Escalators provided |   No. of Stations | No. of Lifts provided   | No. of Stations   |
|---------|-----------------------|------------------------------|-------------------|-------------------------|-------------------|
|       1 | Central               |                           20 |                12 | 06                      | 03                |
|       2 | Eastern               |                           06 |                05 | 06                      | 02                |
|       3 | East Central          |                           03 |                03 | --                      | --                |
|       4 | East Coast            |                           05 |                03 | 02                      | 01                |
|       5 | Northern              |                           38 |                09 | 20                      | 04                |
|       6 | North Central         |                           16 |                05 | 04                      | 01                |
|       7 | North Eastern         |                           02 |                01 | --                      | --                |
|       8 | Northeast Frontier    |                           01 |                01 | --                      | --                |
|       9 | North Western         |                           06 |                03 | 04                      | 01                |
|      10 | Southern              |                           64 |                30 | 52                      | 27                |
|      11 | South Eastern         |                           06 |                03 | --                      | --                |
|      12 | South Central         |                           43 |                14 | 37                      | 15                |
|      13 | South East            |                           02 |                02 | 03                      | 03                |
|      14 | Central South Western |                           02 |                01 | 01                      | 01                |
|      15 | Western               |                           23 |                10 | 22                      | 10                |
|      16 | West Central          |                           04 |                03 | 07                      | 04                |

| 17        | Metro     |   24 |   14 |   07 |
|-----------|-----------|------|------|------|
| TOTAL 316 | TOTAL 316 |  129 |  178 |   79 |

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