Lok Sabha Question No. 3696 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-18
Subject: Installation of Escalators/lifts at Railway Station across the Country
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Smt. Poonamben Hematbhai Maadam

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3696 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.12.2024

## INSTALLATION OF ESCALATORS/LIFTS AT RAILWAY STATION

## ACROSS THE COUNTRY

3696 SMT. POONAMBEN HEMATBHAI MAADAM:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken steps to make railway stations inclusive  and  accessible  for  passengers  with  disabilities,  if  so,  the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has taken steps for installing escalators/lifts at railway stations across the country, if so, the details thereof, State-wise;
- (c) whether measures have been taken by the Government to ensure the  timely  maintenance  and  upkeep  of  escalators/lifts  once  they  are installed in railway stations; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a)  to  (d)  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, amenities for Divyangjans, 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.

Provision  /  improvement  of  passenger  amenities  at  railway  stations, including lifts and escalators, 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.

In  order  to  facilitate  easy  movement  of  elderly,  sick  passengers  and for  smooth  access  to  platforms,  escalators  are  provided  at  Railway stations across the Indian Railways.

Further,  as  part  of  'Sugamya  Bharat  Abhiyaan'  for  differently  abled passengers,  lifts  at  railway  stations  are  provided  depending  upon inter-se  priority  of  various  stations  and  the  availability  of  resources and feasibility for provision of lifts.

Provision  of  escalators  and  lifts  is  an  ongoing  process.  As  a  part  of this,  till  Nov'24,  1512  escalators  at  399  Railway  stations  and  1607

Lifts at 609 Railway stations have been provided over Indian Railways. The progress of provision of lifts/escalators at Railway stations during 2004-14 vis-a-vis 2014-24 is as given below:

|            | FY 2004-14   | FY 2014-24           |
|------------|--------------|----------------------|
| Escalators | 143 Nos.     | 1307 Nos. (9 times)  |
| Lifts      | 97 Nos.      | 1357 Nos. (14 times) |

Moreover,  Indian  Railways  has  mechanisms  in  place  for  periodic checking and corrective actions to be taken regarding upkeep of its various  assets.  Regular  inspections  of  assets  are  carried  out  and complaints, if any, are attended promptly.

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