Lok Sabha Question No. 1642 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-08
Subject: Disabled Accessible Stations
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Aparajita Sarangi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1642 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.12.2021

## DISABLED ACCESSIBLE STATIONS

1642. SHRIMATI APARAJITA SARANGI:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Railways    has  conducted  a  study    to  identify  types  of disabilities to provide monetary and infrastructural benefits and; if so, the categories identified thereof;
- (b) the statistics on fund allocation for development of disabled-friendly stations and improvement of existing ones, State-wise;
- (c) the year-wise statistics, 1950 to present, on the number of disabled passengers State-wise;
- (d) whether disability access at railway stations has increased, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
- (e)  whether there has been a phase-wise and cumulative target set for complete disabled accessible railway stations in the country and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (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.  1642  BY  SHRIMATI  APARAJITA  SARANGI TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 08.12.2021 REGARDING DISABLED ACCESSIBLE STATIONS

(a): Indian Railways provide concessions in Passenger  fare to 4 categories of Persons with disabilities (Divyangjan). The details are as under:-

|   S. No | CATEGORY OF PERSONS                                                                                                                                    | PERCENTAGE OF CONCESSION                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
|---------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|       1 | Orthopaedically Handicapped/ Paraplegic persons who cannot travel without escort - for any purpose                                                     |  75% in second class, Second sleeper, First Class, AC-3 tier, AC chair Car  50% in First AC and AC-2 tier,  25% in AC 3 tier & AC Chair Car of Rajdhani/Shatabdi trains  50% in Monthly Season Ticket and Quarterly Season Tickets.  One escort is also eligible for same element of concession |
|       2 | Mentally retarded persons who cannot travel without escort - for any purpose                                                                           |  75% in second class, Second sleeper, First Class, AC-3 tier, AC chair Car  50% in First AC and AC-2 tier,  25% in AC 3 tier & AC Chair Car of Rajdhani/Shatabdi trains  50% in Monthly Season Ticket and Quarterly Season Tickets.  One escort is also eligible for same element of concession |
|       3 | Person with visual impairment with total absence of sight travelling alone or with an escort - for any purpose                                         |  75% in second class, Second sleeper, First Class, AC-3 tier, AC chair Car  50% in First AC and AC-2 tier,  25% in AC 3 tier & AC Chair Car of Rajdhani/Shatabdi trains  50% in Monthly Season Ticket and Quarterly Season Tickets.  One escort is also eligible for same element of concession |
|       4 | Person with hearing and speech impairment totally (both afflictions together in the same person) travelling alone or with an escort - for any purpose. |  50% in second class, Second sleeper and First Class  50% in Monthly Season Ticket and Quarterly Season Tickets One escort is also eligible for same element of concession.                                                                                                                        |

(b):  Works  for  all  passenger  amenities  including  facilities  for  Persons with  Disabilities  (Divyangjan)  at  Railway  stations  are  generally  funded under Plan Head - 53 'Passenger Amenities'.  No separate accountal is made  for expenditure on amenities for Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan).  However,  in  financial  year  2020-21,  a  dedicated  umbrella work  for  provision  of 'Minimum  Essential  Amenities  and  facilities  for Divyangjan at stations over Indian Railways' has been created.

(c):  Number  of  Persons  with  disabilities  (Divyangjan) Passengers  state wise since 1950 is not maintained separately. However, the total number of Persons with disabilities (Divyangjan) Passengers travelled on concessional  fare  as  per  their  eligibility  during  last  five  years  are  as under:

| Period   |   Passengers (In Crore) (Approx) |
|----------|----------------------------------|
| 2015-16  |                             0.93 |
| 2016-17  |                             0.98 |
| 2017-18  |                             1.18 |
| 2018-19  |                             1.22 |
| 2019-20  |                             1.19 |

(d) & (e): In the year 2015, a target was set to make A1, A & B category railway  stations  fully  accessible.  Consequently,  all  709  A-1,  A  &  B category railway stations (erstwhile) have been provided with facilities such  as  ramps,  reserved  parking  near  entrance,  accessible  toilets, accessible  drinking  water  facilities,  signages  etc.  to  make  railway stations accessible for Divyangjans.

Further in February, 2020 the harmonized guidelines for accessibility of Railways  have  been  circulated  for implementation over  Indian  railways.  According  to  these  guidelines,  Indian  Railways endeavor to  provide  comprehensive  facilities  and  services  to

Divyangjan, which inter-alia include an easy use of information system, accessible infrastructure, various concessions to passengers travelling on  Divyangjan  concession  Tickets,  Human  Assistance,  Wheel  Chairs, Signages, etc.

Further,  Improvement  /augmentation  of  amenities  for  passengers (including Divyangjan) at Railway Stations is an ongoing and continuous process  and  works  in  this  regard  are  undertaken  as  per  requirement, subject to inter-se priority and availability of funds.

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