Ability Forum

[Anila]

Hi,

If anybody can help me on this - I wanted to know if we can go to New Delhi railway station on wheelchair? How to go from one platform to another? How to get inside trains?

This is quite urgent.

Thanks
Anila

Hi,

If anybody can help me on this - I wanted to know if we can go to New Delhi railway station on wheelchair? How to go from one platform to another? How to get inside trains?

This is quite urgent.

Thanks
Anila

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[Vic]

Hello Anila,

Please find below a few notings from my visit to the New Delhi Railway Station last year:

•     The station has two entrance one from Pahar Ganj (level entrance) and other from Ajmeri Gate side (ramped). It is recommended to use the Ajmeri Gate entrance as the access route from Pahar Ganj entrance takes one through the ticket booking areas that are almost always overcrowded.

•     Accessible parking bays are provided at both the entrances, just adjacent to the platform entry gates. At the Ajmeri Gate side the accessible parking available is in the VIP parking area and hence disable people need to pay VIP charges for parking in this.   At the Pahar Ganj side the accessible parking bays are free but are generally always filled by non disabled drivers.

•     There is a special waiting room for the disabled that is being constructed with an accessible shower-cum-toilet facility. The approach to the toilet provided in the special waiting room is blocked with wheelchairs and stretchers. Moreover the facility is out of order. Also the General class ladies waiting room has a toilet facility that can be used both by disabled men and women (although expecting disabled men to use this in the ladies waiting room is ridiculous).

•     There is an external ‘Deluxe Toilet’ unit provided at the entrance from Pahar Ganj side. While efforts have been made to make this accessible to people by disablities but the toilet size and layout of the accessible toilet is not suitable for wheelchair users.

•     The station has 12 platforms that are connected by Foot Over Bridges (FOBs). Platform 1 & 12 are whellchair accessible from the entrances. The FOBs do not have any ramps and are only accessed by a long flight of stairs from each platform. For wheelchair users to cross over to the no. 2- no. 11 platforms, there are something called 'wheelchair pathways' - these are basically 3 feet wide cemented pathways that rudder over the railway tracks and were originally constructed as routed for luggage carts. The present system of making wheelchair users cross over the tracks is uncomfortable as well as  dangerous. There are escalators provided at platform 1 and 12 but it must be noted that escalators are never advisable for wheelchair users.

I hope the above helps.

_________________
Vikas

AccessAbility

Hello Anila,

Please find below a few notings from my visit to the New Delhi Railway Station last year:

•     The station has two entrance one from Pahar Ganj (level entrance) and other from Ajmeri Gate side (ramped). It is recommended to use the Ajmeri Gate entrance as the access route from Pahar Ganj entrance takes one through the ticket booking areas that are almost always overcrowded.

•     Accessible parking bays are provided at both the entrances, just adjacent to the platform entry gates. At the Ajmeri Gate side the accessible parking available is in the VIP parking area and hence disable people need to pay VIP charges for parking in this.   At the Pahar Ganj side the accessible parking bays are free but are generally always filled by non disabled drivers.

•     There is a special waiting room for the disabled that is being constructed with an accessible shower-cum-toilet facility. The approach to the toilet provided in the special waiting room is blocked with wheelchairs and stretchers. Moreover the facility is out of order. Also the General class ladies waiting room has a toilet facility that can be used both by disabled men and women (although expecting disabled men to use this in the ladies waiting room is ridiculous).

•     There is an external ‘Deluxe Toilet’ unit provided at the entrance from Pahar Ganj side. While efforts have been made to make this accessible to people by disablities but the toilet size and layout of the accessible toilet is not suitable for wheelchair users.

•     The station has 12 platforms that are connected by Foot Over Bridges (FOBs). Platform 1 & 12 are whellchair accessible from the entrances. The FOBs do not have any ramps and are only accessed by a long flight of stairs from each platform. For wheelchair users to cross over to the no. 2- no. 11 platforms, there are something called 'wheelchair pathways' - these are basically 3 feet wide cemented pathways that rudder over the railway tracks and were originally constructed as routed for luggage carts. The present system of making wheelchair users cross over the tracks is uncomfortable as well as  dangerous. There are escalators provided at platform 1 and 12 but it must be noted that escalators are never advisable for wheelchair users.

I hope the above helps.

_________________
Vikas

AccessAbility

[Anila]

Hi Vikas,

Thanks for ur prompt reply. So that means there isnt any accessibilty at all. When will authorities awake to the difficulties that people face? Wish we could do something about it. we had an urgent requirement to travel- but now it seems impossible. My brother uses a  wheelchair, and coz of unavailabilty of direct train to destination, we would have to come to Delhi. But since there is no possibility, I am disheartened!

Anila

Hi Vikas,

Thanks for ur prompt reply. So that means there isnt any accessibilty at all. When will authorities awake to the difficulties that people face? Wish we could do something about it. we had an urgent requirement to travel- but now it seems impossible. My brother uses a  wheelchair, and coz of unavailabilty of direct train to destination, we would have to come to Delhi. But since there is no possibility, I am disheartened!

Anila

[Kr_iyer]

Date: Tuesday , June 19, 2007
  
New Delhi Station, trains lack disabled-friendly facilities: NGO report  

The report, which highlights an ‘inaccessible’ rail transport system, will be presented to Union Railway Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav, say NGO officials  

Tenzing Lamsang

New Delhi, June 18: Trains, including the Rajdhani and Shatabdi, and the New Delhi Railway Station do not have facilities for the disabled—including accessible drinking water, ramps, train schedule signages, toilets and assistance staff—says an NGO audit report.

The report, prepared by NGO Svayam, will be presented to Railway Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav in two months to highlight the “inaccessible” rail transport system, say NGO officials.



NGO founder Sminu Jindal (herself disabled), said: “We have done this exercise to highlight how this system of mass transport is inaccessible to a large part of the population, both rich and poor and that any change should be made keeping this in mind.”

New Delhi Railway Station
With around half a million footfalls daily, this is busiest station in North India. However, the only way a person on a wheelchair can reach the station is through some tracks 200 meters away from the station where trains whiz by at frequent intervals.

Svayam managing director, Abha Negi, said, “The disabled find it difficult to reach any of the 12 platforms as they are all connected by stairs. The gambit is bigger for the blind with no tactile tiles, like in the metro, to warn a person if he or she is about to fall off. Potholes in the station, too, pose another hazard for the blind. Also, none of the arrival-departure signs have audio support for visual display and vice-versa making it impossible for them to negotiate rail traffic.”

Rajdhani
“This is considered one of the best trains in India but it has no facilities for the disabled,” says Abha. At a height of 700 mm, the entrance to the train makes it difficult even for the elderly to access it. The narrow tight compartment doors are inaccessible to a person on a wheelchair. As far as toilets, which have width of 440 mm, are concerned, even an ordinary person finds it difficult to enter, says the report.

Shatabdi
The main criticism about this train is the “waste of space” with “unnecessary” front tables and many storerooms. Abha says, “ A large disabled friendly toilet could have been constructed in this with wasted space.” And, like Rajdhani, the entrance doors have been found to be too narrow and high, says the report.

An ordinary train
Inaccessible toilets and a narrow compartment makes it all the more difficult for the disabled

Bogey for the disabled
“We have been very critical because, unlike most countries, Indian Railways continues to segregate the disabled in a separate compartment. We will request the Railway Minister to change this policy in the light of new trains being built,” says Abha.

Though ‘For Disabled’ is displayed in bold letters, most platforms have no tactile blocks in front of the bogey for the visually handicapped. Moreover, these bogeys are occupied by the general public in connivance with rail officials, the report adds.


Source: http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=241760

_________________
If they answer not to thy call walk alone,
If they are afraid and cower mutely facing the wall,
O thou unlucky one,
open thy mind and speak out alone.
RABINDRANATH TAGORE

Date: Tuesday , June 19, 2007
  
New Delhi Station, trains lack disabled-friendly facilities: NGO report  

The report, which highlights an ‘inaccessible’ rail transport system, will be presented to Union Railway Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav, say NGO officials  

Tenzing Lamsang

New Delhi, June 18: Trains, including the Rajdhani and Shatabdi, and the New Delhi Railway Station do not have facilities for the disabled—including accessible drinking water, ramps, train schedule signages, toilets and assistance staff—says an NGO audit report.

The report, prepared by NGO Svayam, will be presented to Railway Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav in two months to highlight the “inaccessible” rail transport system, say NGO officials.



NGO founder Sminu Jindal (herself disabled), said: “We have done this exercise to highlight how this system of mass transport is inaccessible to a large part of the population, both rich and poor and that any change should be made keeping this in mind.”

New Delhi Railway Station
With around half a million footfalls daily, this is busiest station in North India. However, the only way a person on a wheelchair can reach the station is through some tracks 200 meters away from the station where trains whiz by at frequent intervals.

Svayam managing director, Abha Negi, said, “The disabled find it difficult to reach any of the 12 platforms as they are all connected by stairs. The gambit is bigger for the blind with no tactile tiles, like in the metro, to warn a person if he or she is about to fall off. Potholes in the station, too, pose another hazard for the blind. Also, none of the arrival-departure signs have audio support for visual display and vice-versa making it impossible for them to negotiate rail traffic.”

Rajdhani
“This is considered one of the best trains in India but it has no facilities for the disabled,” says Abha. At a height of 700 mm, the entrance to the train makes it difficult even for the elderly to access it. The narrow tight compartment doors are inaccessible to a person on a wheelchair. As far as toilets, which have width of 440 mm, are concerned, even an ordinary person finds it difficult to enter, says the report.

Shatabdi
The main criticism about this train is the “waste of space” with “unnecessary” front tables and many storerooms. Abha says, “ A large disabled friendly toilet could have been constructed in this with wasted space.” And, like Rajdhani, the entrance doors have been found to be too narrow and high, says the report.

An ordinary train
Inaccessible toilets and a narrow compartment makes it all the more difficult for the disabled

Bogey for the disabled
“We have been very critical because, unlike most countries, Indian Railways continues to segregate the disabled in a separate compartment. We will request the Railway Minister to change this policy in the light of new trains being built,” says Abha.

Though ‘For Disabled’ is displayed in bold letters, most platforms have no tactile blocks in front of the bogey for the visually handicapped. Moreover, these bogeys are occupied by the general public in connivance with rail officials, the report adds.


Source: http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=241760

_________________
If they answer not to thy call walk alone,
If they are afraid and cower mutely facing the wall,
O thou unlucky one,
open thy mind and speak out alone.
RABINDRANATH TAGORE

[Vic]

Hello Anila,

Dont be so disheartened - it may still be workable.

Can your brother stand up or walk a few steps ?

Even if not, the travel may still be possible if the interchange is at platform 1 or 12 + he is booked in the 'Accessible Boggie' (The Accessible Boggie is the last/ first boggie of the train that has capacity of 4 persons, the entrance doors are wide enough to allow a wheelchair & they supposedly have a toilet that is usable by a wheelchair user - although I must warn you that the entrance to this boggie requires lifting the wheelchair at-least 30-40 cm from most New Delhi platforms).

_________________
Vikas

AccessAbility

Hello Anila,

Dont be so disheartened - it may still be workable.

Can your brother stand up or walk a few steps ?

Even if not, the travel may still be possible if the interchange is at platform 1 or 12 + he is booked in the 'Accessible Boggie' (The Accessible Boggie is the last/ first boggie of the train that has capacity of 4 persons, the entrance doors are wide enough to allow a wheelchair & they supposedly have a toilet that is usable by a wheelchair user - although I must warn you that the entrance to this boggie requires lifting the wheelchair at-least 30-40 cm from most New Delhi platforms).

_________________
Vikas

AccessAbility

[Anila]

nopes,i dont think it is workable...coz we cant say which station the train will b on.  It is difficult.

nopes,i dont think it is workable...coz we cant say which station the train will b on.  It is difficult.