Allotment of Train Berths for Persons with Disabilities ( Indian Railways )

This Press Release is based on the information given by the Minister of State for Railways Shri Rajen Gohain in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha on 26.07.2017 (Wednesday).

In order to provide better accessibility to persons with disability, short term facilities as detailed below have been planned at all stations, beginning with ‘A-1’, ‘A’ & ‘ B ’ category stations:

• Standard ramp for barrier free entry.
• Earmarking at least two parking lots.
• Non-slippery walk-way from parking lot to station building.
• Signages of appropriate visibility.
• At least one drinking water tap suitable for use by differently-abled persons.
• At least one toilet (on the ground floor).
• ‘May I help you ’ Booth.
• In addition, long term facilities, as detailed below, have been planned at ‘A-1’, ‘A’ & ‘B ’ category stations:
• Engraving on edges of platform.
• Provision of facility for inter-platform transfer.

Zone-wise details of railway stations provided with facilities for persons with disability as on 30.06.2017 are appended.

With a view to ensuring allotment of lower berths to persons with disability, following steps have been taken:-

(i) In addition to four berths in Sleeper class being earmarked for persons with disability(2 lower berths for the persons with disability and two upper/middle berths, for the escort) it has been decided to earmark a reservation quota of two berths in 3AC for persons with disability (lower berth for persons with disability and middle berth for their escort). This is in addition to the existing facility of booking in SLRD coaches of Garib Rath Express trains available to the persons with disability

(ii) Instructions have also been issued to make provision in the system to allot only lower berths to persons with disability in SLRD coaches of Garib Rath Express trains and upper berth to their attendant irrespective of the age of the attendant. In case any person with disability books accommodation without attendant, the upper berth will be kept vacant and released to RAC/waitlist passengers at the time of preparation of reservation charts.

ref: http://pib.nic.in/newsite/pmreleases.aspx?mincode=23