Quota for physically challenged persons in train berths

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Indian Railways had earmarked quota of two sleeper class berths in all the trains running on non-suburban sections for handicapped persons undertaking journey on handicapped concessional ticket. The person accompanying the handicapped person as escort is also allotted the berth out of this quota.   Instructions have also been issued that in the tickets issued through computerized passenger reservation system, one lower berth should be allotted to the handicapped person and the person accompanying the handicapped person as escort should be allotted middle/upper berths near the handicapped person's berth subject to availability of accommodation.

After departure of the train, if there are vacant lower berths available in the train and if any physically handicapped person booked on the authority of handicapped concessional ticket, who has been allotted upper/middle berth, approaches for allotment of vacant lower berths, the conductor/train ticket examiner (TTE) had been authorized to allot the vacant lower berth to them making entries in the chart.

Specially designed coaches known as SLRD with wider entrance doors to allow a wheelchair to enter, wider aisles and modified toilet with four berths, the lower two for physically challenged persons and upper berths for attendants, have been attached in almost all mail/express trains except Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Jan Shatabdi express trains and Duronto Express.

Instructions have been issued that in all mail/express trains, the SLRD coaches should be treated as unreserved coaches earmarked for exclusive use of physically handicapped passengers. In case of Gharib Rath Express trains which are fully reserved, these coaches are treated as reserved for handicapped persons on payment of full fare of 3 AC class of Garib Rath Express on first come first serve basis.

Separate counters are earmarked at various passenger reservation system (PRS) centres for dealing with the reservation requisitions received from physically handicapped persons, senior citizens, ex-MPs, MLAs, accredited journalists and freedom fighters, if the average demand per shift is not less than 120 tickets. In case there is no justification for an exclusive counter for these categories, one or two counters depending upon the total demand are earmarked for dealing with the reservation requests for all these categories.

Facilities like wheel chairs have been provided at all main stations. In allotment of STD/PCO booths at railway stations, 25% booths have been reserved for physically handicapped persons (including blind disability 40% and above).



Source : TOI , Allahabad ; 19th July 2013