Lok Sabha Question No. 391 (STARRED), answered on 2017-03-29
Subject: Budgetary Allocation for Differently Abled
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: TATHAGATA SATPATHY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.391 TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.03.2017

BUDGETARY ALLOCATION FOR DIFFERENTLY ABLED

*391. SHRI TATHAGATA SATPATHY:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

(a)  whether the Railways has made adequate arrangements at railway stations, trains, platforms and other railway properties for the benefit of differently abled citizens and if so, the details thereof;

(b)  whether  any  budgetary  allocation  has  been  made  for  differently abled in the railway budget, 2017-18; and

(c) if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI SURESH PRABHAKAR PRABHU)

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

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF STARRED QUESTION NO.391 BY SHRI TATHAGATA SATPATHY TO BE ANSWERED IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  29.03.2017  REGARDING  BUDGETARY  ALLOCATION FOR DIFFERENTLY ABLED

(a):   Improvement/augmentation  of  amenities  at  railway  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.
-  At least one toilet (on the ground floor).
-  At least one drinking water tap suitable for use by differentlyabled persons.
-  Signages of appropriate visibility.
-  Non-slippery walk-way from parking lot to station building.
-  Earmarking at least two parking lots.
-  'May I help you' Booth.

There are 709 'A-1', 'A' & 'B' category stations on Indian Railways, out  of  which  632  stations  have  been  provided  with  all  short-  term facilities.

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.

The details of railway stations provided with facilities for differently abled persons are appended.

Railway is making adequate arrangement in Railway properties for benefit of differently abled persons by way of providing ramp and other facilities in the existing buildings wherever feasible and new buildings have been planned with adequate facilities for differently abled.

Zonal Railways have been authorized to introduce Battery Operated Vehicles (BOVs) at major railway stations for differently abled, elderly and ailing 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 free of charge to passenger or to the Railway. 80 BOVs have  already  been  provided  at  54  major  railway  stations.  Further, instructions have also been issued to Zonal Railways to invite Expression of Interest for providing the facility of Battery Operated Car service on payment basis initially at all A1 category stations keeping in view  the  financial  sustainability  of  the  service.  This  facility  can  be availed  by  passengers  on  'first  come  first  served'  basis,  however, preference is given to senior citizens, physically challenged, pregnant women and medically sick passengers.

In  addition,  Zonal  Railways  have  also  been  instructed  to  provide one wheelchair per platform and in case of island platforms one wheel chair per two platforms at all A-1 and A category stations.

Further,  Yatri  Mitra  Sewa  has  also  been  introduced  at  major railway stations for enabling passengers to book wheel chairs services cum porter services free of cost through NGOs, Charitable trust, PSUs etc  under  CSR  and  responsibility  of  providing  this  facility  has  been entrusted with IRCTC.  In case  of lack of  response  from  NGOs,

Charitable  trust,  PSUs  etc.,  this  service  may  be  arranged  on  payment basis through a service provider or on its own.

In order to provide additional facilities for differently abled citizens in  train  coaches,  Indian  Railways  has  developed  designs  of  coaches having  a  compartment  for  the  differently  abled  as  well  as  additional features in the lavatories. Some of these features are:

-  Wider  entrance  door  of  920  mm  opening  for  easy  movement  of wheelchair.
-  Wider,  bi-fold  inward  opening  lavatory  door  of  910  mm  for  easy movement of wheelchair.
-  Size and cushioning of PWDs  berth as per standard of AirConditioned  2-Tier  berth  with  knee  space  of  900  mm  for  easy movement of wheelchair.
-  Two way alarm communication system between lavatory & compartment.
-  PWDs berth number engraved in Braille lipi also.
-  Anti-slip flooring in lavatory area.
-  Handrails in lavatory as well as in compartment area for wheelchair parking.

For  the  assistance  of  the  visually  impaired  travelers,  Integrated Braille  Signages,  i.e.  signages  superimposed  with  Braille  scripts,  are Further, retrofitment of the same in existing coaches has also been taken up in being provided in the newly manufactured coaches. a phased manner.

In order to facilitate easy movement of elderly, sick and differently abled passengers and for smooth access to platforms of major railway stations  and  for  ease  of  movement,  as  per  the  existing  guidelines, escalators/lifts  are  provided  at  'A1'  category  and  escalators  at  'A' category,  'C'  category  stations  and  stations  of  tourist  importance, progressively  based  on  techno  commercial  feasibility  &  availability  of fund.    Provision  of  lifts  and  escalators  at  stations  is  a  continuous process and is done as per need and priority of work.

Accordingly,  Indian  Railways  plan  to  provide  about  770  no.  of escalators and about 620 no. of lifts, out of which so far, about 370 no. of escalators at 167 stations & about 183 no. of lifts at 98 stations have been installed across Indian Railways. Further, in the Budget 2017-18, it has been announced that about 500 stations shall be provided with lifts and escalators progressively as part of 'Sugamya Bharat Mission'. (b)  &  (c):  In  the  Accounting  &  Budgeting  system  of  Indian  Railways, there is no specific head meant for allocation towards differently-abled persons. In Capital segment of Budget, works relating to facilities/amenities  for  travelling  public,  including  those  for  differentlyabled  persons  like  provision  of  escalators,  elevators,  ramps  etc.,  are taken up under Plan Head - 'Passenger Amenities', while arrangement in coaches  for  differently-abled  passengers  are  done  under  Plan  Head  'Rolling Stock'. However, these figures are not amenable to segregation. Funds of approximately ` 1100  Crores  have  been  allocated  under  Plan Head - 'Passenger Amenities' for the financial year 2017-18.

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APPENDIX REFERRED  TO  IN REPLY TO PART (a) OF  STARRED QUESTION NO.391 BY SHRI TATHAGATA SATPATHY TO BE ANSWERED IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  29.03.2017  REGARDING  BUDGETARY  ALLOCATION FOR DIFFERENTLY ABLED

|   S.No. | Facility for differently-abled persons                                        |   Approximate number of stations, where facility provided |
|---------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|
|       1 | Standard ramp for barrier free entry                                          |                                                      1980 |
|       2 | At least one toilet (on the ground floor)                                     |                                                      1530 |
|       3 | At least one drinking water tap suitable for use by differently-abled persons |                                                      1520 |
|       4 | Signages of appropriate visibility                                            |                                                      1280 |
|       5 | Non-slippery walk-way from parking lot to station building                    |                                                      1240 |
|       6 | Earmarking at least two parking lots                                          |                                                      1150 |
|       7 | May I help you booth                                                          |                                                       960 |
|       8 | Engraving on edges of platforms                                               |                                                      1650 |
|       9 | Provision of facility for inter-platform transfer                             |                                                      1140 |

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