Introduction
Indian Railways is committed to make its railway stations and trains accessible for Divyangjans as part of “Sugamya Bharat Mission” or Accessible India Campaign of Government of India. In order to facilitate easy movement of elderly, sick and Divyangjans and for smooth access to platforms of major railway stations and for ease of movement, lifts/escalators are being provided as part of ‘Sugamya Bharat Abhiyaan’.
Current Status
As of December 2023, there are total 597 stations where either lifts or escalators are provided. The breakdown of the numbers is as follows:
- Escalators: Total 1287 escalators at 372 stations provided upto December 2023. Out of these, 1144 escalators were provided during 2014-23.
- Lifts: Total 1292 lifts at 497 stations provided upto December 2023. Out of these, 1195 lifts were provided during 2014-23.
Future Plans
Indian Railways has been consistently trying to improve passenger amenities at various stations. Provision of escalators and lifts at the railway platforms would facilitate improvement at exit/entry of passengers and is a further step to improve passenger safety as well.
Some of the future plans for station development include:
- Implementation of Amrit Bharat Station Scheme for Indian Railways, which aims to provide basic amenities such as toilets, drinking water, waiting area, etc. at all stations.
- Preparation of Master Plans of Station Development Works, which will include provision of accessibility features for Divyangjans and passengers with reduced mobility.
- Notification of Guidelines on accessibility of Indian Railway Stations and facilities at stations for differently abled persons (Divyangjans) and passengers with reduced mobility.
- Implementation of BIM (Building Information Modeling) in station development projects, which will help in better design and coordination among various stakeholders.
Conclusion
Indian Railways is making efforts to enhance the accessibility of its railway stations and trains for Divyangjans and passengers with reduced mobility. By providing lifts and escalators at 597 stations, it has made a significant progress in this direction. It also has several plans to further improve the station infrastructure and facilities in line with the Sugamya Bharat Mission.