SCR turns 60 stations to disabled friendly

HYDERABAD: A total of 60 stations out of 754 falling under the South Central Railway (SCR) zone have turned into disable friendly stations. The modified stations include a standard ramp with railing for entry, two parking lots, non-slippery walkway from the parking lot to station building, signage, water tap, a toilet on the ground floor, help desks, engravings of the edges of the platforms and trolley paths for inter-platform navigation.

The stations which are transformed into disabled friendly with all the facilities are Anantapur, Guntur, Guntakal, Hyderabad, Kadapa, Kacheguda, Lingampalli, Nanded, Rajahmundry, Secunderabad, Tirupati, Vijayawada, and other stations. Other stations under SCR zone are also underway to becoming disabled friendly. At the other remaining 499 railway stations, facilities such as ramps, toilets, drinking water taps and walkways have been provided and other amenities would be provided in a phased manner.

These new facilities are a part of plan under which Railway is bound to provide better transportation facilities to the disabled people after the directions of Piyush Goyal, Railway Minister. Currently, most of the important stations are equipped with wheelchair facilities for disabled passengers. The facility is free for passengers and is chargeable for porters.

Ch Rakesh, Chief Public Relations officer said, as on date battery operated vehicles are also being used at selected stations, 61 lifts are available at 27 stations and another 14 lifts are under construction at fewer stations.