Lakhs of commuters travel in trains on the Harbour Line daily, including the physically challenged.
However, most of the platforms lack basic facilities for the commuters, especially the disabled.
The disabled are the ones who have a tough time travelling as no special provision has been made for them by the Central Railway.
Some railway stations such as Turbhe, Kharghar and Seawoods have ramps in place so that the physically challenged do not face trouble while commuting from one station to the other. With the help of wheelchairs, the disabled can travel conveniently as some platforms have been providing this facility for years. Nerul, Seawoods and Belapur stations have wheelchair facility for the disabled.
On asking the station master at Seawoods, he revealed, “Due to construction work being undertaken by a private company, the wheelchair facility has been stopped for a while, but it start within a short time.”
Somnath Choughule, secretary of ‘Apang Utkarsh Seva Sanstha’ Seawoods, said, “The sanstha wrote many letters to the divisional railway manager and City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco) regarding the problem at stations, but no action has been taken so far.”
Since Nerul station has many steps, the physically challenged find it difficult to climb. When asked how the disabled can avail of the facility, the station master said, “The physically challenged have to submit their identification card, and accordingly, the wheelchairs are provided to them at the stations. Besides, as per the Disability Act, 1995, and national policy for persons with disability, 3% of the total railway budget has to be spent on the disabled to have the necessary facilities in place. But, unfortunately, the disabled are not treated at par with other commuters and find it difficult to travel in trains.
Public Relations Officer of Cidco was unavailable for his comment.
Tough commute
Some railway stations such as Turbhe, Kharghar and Seawoods have ramps in place so that the physically challenged do not face trouble while commuting from one station to the other
With the help of wheelchairs, the disabled can travel conveniently as some platforms have been providing this facility for years. Nerul, Seawoods and Belapur stations have wheelchair facility for the disabled. Since Nerul station has many steps, the physically challenged find it difficult to climb.
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