FACILITIES FOR HANDICAPPED PERSONS AT RAILWAY STATIONS

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The Ministry of Railways has directed all the Zonal Railways to provide ramps for barrier free entry, non-slippery walkway, disabled friendly drinking water taps and toilets suitable for handicapped persons at all ‘A’ category stations in the first phase, to begin with. These include all the major stations like Delhi, New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Howrah, Sealdah, Allahabad, Jammu Tawi, Lucknow, Guwalior, Bangalore, Patna, Secunderabad, Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Vasco-da-Gama, Rourkela, Jaipur and similar major stations.

The Indian Railways are being guided by the National Institute of Orthopaedically Handicapped, Koltaka, in this regard in terms of the provisions of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995.

The barrier free facilities at ‘A’ category railway stations are to be financed from passenger amenities funds, which is Rs. 205 crores during 2003-2004.

In the second phase, facilities will be provided at all ‘B’ category stations and thereafter to all ‘C’ category stations.