Rail Budget 2013: Amenities announced for differently-abled and elderly

NEW DELHI: Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal in his rail budget 2013 speech announced some measures and amenities for differently-able passengers. These measures are meant to facilitate the boarding of trains and exit from stations.

"India is a signatory to the UN Convention on the rights of the disabled. We are conscious of our responsibility under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)," Bansal said.

To facilitate the boarding of trains and exit from the stations for the differently-abled and the elderly, the steps proposed include provision of 179 escalators and 400 lifts at A-1 and other major stations, affixing Braille stickers indicating the layout of coaches including toilets.

There would also be a provision of wheel chairs and battery operated vehicles at more stations and coaches would be made wheel-chair friendly.

In order to provide an employment avenue to the disabled people, Bansal proposed to reserve a specified number of JTBS for them. This will be done keeping in view that the PCOs at stations have become largely redundant after the mobile revolution in India.