Lok Sabha Question No. 3833 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-18
Subject: Facilities to Divyangjans and Senior Citizens Passengers under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Dr. Rajeev Bharadwaj

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3833 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.12.2024

## FACILITIES TO DIVYANGJANS AND SENIOR CITIZENS PASSENGERS UNDER AMRIT BHARAT STATION SCHEME

†3833.   DR. RAJEEV BHARADWAJ:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  any  measures  have  been  taken/proposed  to  be  taken  by the Government to facilitate easy movement of Divyangjans and senior citizens passengers in the proposed redevelopment of stations under the Amrit Bharat Station scheme;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether any action plan has been formulated by the Government to make  those  stations  energy  efficient  which  are  proposed  to  be redeveloped under the said scheme, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a)  to  (c)  Indian  Railways  is  committed  to  make  its  railway  stations accessible for Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjans) and passengers with reduced  mobility as part of 'Sugamya  Bharat  Mission'  or

'Accessible India Campaign' of Government of India. In compliance of the  Rights  of  Persons  with  Disabilities  Act,  2016,  'Guidelines  on accessibility  of  Indian  Railway  stations  and  facilities  at  stations  for differently  abled  persons  (Divyangjans)  and  passengers with reduced mobility' have been circulated and notified in the Gazette of India. The guidelines include provisions of facilities for Divyangjans and passengers with reduced mobility such as entrance ramps, accessible parking, low height ticket counters/help booths, toilets, drinking water booths, subways/foot over bridges with ramps/lifts, standard signages including Braille signages and tactile pathways for visual impairment, etc.

Ministry  of  Railways  has  launched  'Amrit  Bharat  Station  Scheme'  for development  of  Railway  stations  on  Indian  Railways.  So  far,  1337 stations have been identified under this scheme. This  scheme envisages development of stations on a continuous basis with a longterm approach.

It  involves  preparation  of  Master  Plans  and  their  implementation  in phases to improve the amenities at the stations like improvement of station access, circulating areas, waiting halls, toilets, lift/escalators as necessary, platform surfacing and cover over platform, cleanliness, free Wi-Fi, kiosks for local products through schemes like 'One Station One Product', better passenger information systems, Executive Lounges, nominated spaces for business meetings, landscaping, etc. keeping in view the necessity at each station.

The scheme also envisages improvement of building, integrating the station with  both  sides  of  the city,  multimodal  integration,  and amenities  for  Divyangjans  and  passengers  with  reduced  mobility, sustainable and environment friendly solutions, provision of ballastless tracks, etc., as per necessity, phasing and feasibility and creation of city centre at the station in the long term.

Further, provision/upgradation of various  passenger amenities at stations including the amenities for Divyangjans and senior citizens is a  continuous  and  ongoing  process  and  works  in  this  regard  are undertaken as per requirement, subject to inter-se priority and availability of funds.

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