Railways get court rap for failing to make stations disabled-friendly

Railways get court rap for failing to make stations disabled-friendly

Directing the railways to come up with a time-bound schedule to provide basic facilities for the differently abled by November 24, the Bombay High Court on Wednesday noted that a large number of suburban stations still did not been provide basic amenities like accessible toilets, railings, low ticketing counters and low-height water taps. Justices A Saka and AS Gadkariwere acting on a bunch of petitions, including one submitted by NGO Disability Right Initiative represented by senior lawyer Gayatri Singh.

 

The petitions highlighted the issue of raising the height of platform sat local stations and providing helipads near railway stations to airlift accident victims.' As we invite discussions on raising the height of platforms, several people have lost their lives. We cannot spend so much time because railways cannot provide basic facilities.

It is sad that the court has to monitor such matters," the HC said. On being informed that such facilities had been provided at only22 stations, the HC noted that the law required railways to provide such facilities for the differently abled at all stations. While referring to the affidavits filed by Central and Western Railways, the court observed "We find that in cases of large number of suburban stations, basic amenities for the differently abled are not provided.

We direct the railways to file an affidavit specifying an outer limit to provide such basic facilities like accessible toilets, ramps, low height ticketing counters and water taps at all station. Compliance of other facilities will be considered in the next hearing."

The court has now asked the railways and the state government to file their affidavits by November 24. The next hearing in this matter will be held on November 26.

For further Information Contact:
Kranti L.C.
09757232347
mumbai@hrln.org