Indian Railways continues to strengthen facilities for Divyangjan, senior citizens and other passengers requiring assistance. Wheelchairs are provided free of cost and handed to attendants escorting such passengers to and from trains. When attendants are unavailable, licensed porters (Sahayaks) may be hired at pre-fixed nominal rates, with relevant information displayed prominently across stations. At present, wheelchairs are available at 5,868 stations across the network.

Enhanced Facilities and Priority Measures

A series of initiatives has been implemented to improve travel comfort and accessibility for elderly, disabled and sick passengers:

Automatic lower-berth allocation: The Passenger Reservation System automatically allots lower berths to senior citizens and female passengers aged 45 and above, subject to availability.

Dedicated lower-berth quotas:

Six to seven lower berths per Sleeper coach

Four to five per 3AC coach

Three to four per 2AC coach These are reserved for senior citizens, women aged 45 and above and pregnant women.

Reserved seats in general compartments: At least seven seats in the first and last general second-class coaches of suburban trains are earmarked for senior citizens.

Lower-berth reassignment on board: After departure, vacant lower berths may be reassigned to persons with disabilities, senior citizens or pregnant women who were earlier allotted upper or middle berths.

Divyangjan reservation quota:

Four berths in Sleeper (two lower, two middle)

Four berths in 3E/3A

Four berths in the SLRD coach of Garib Rath trains

Four seats in 2S/CC in trains with more than two such coaches

Unreserved SLRD coaches: In Mail/Express trains (except fully reserved services), SLRD coaches are treated as unreserved and earmarked exclusively for persons with disabilities.

Reserved SLRD in Garib Rath and fully reserved trains: These coaches remain reserved for Divyangjan travelling with concessional tickets on a first-come, first-served basis.

Berth allocation for escorts: Reservation systems aim to allot a lower berth to a Divyangjan passenger and a nearby middle/upper berth for the escort, subject to availability.

Specialised reservation counters: Separate counters are provided at PRS centres for Divyangjan, senior citizens, ex-MPs, MLAs, accredited journalists and freedom fighters when demand exceeds 120 tickets per shift.

Concessional online bookings: Divyangjan and eligible patients may book tickets online using identity cards issued by Zonal Railways. Escorts receive the same concession.

Battery-operated vehicles (BOVs): A total of 196 BOVs operate at 79 stations, prioritising Divyangjan, senior citizens, sick passengers and pregnant women.

165 are chargeable

10 are free via publicity route

21 are free via CSR support

Passenger facility upgrades, particularly for disabled, elderly and sick travellers, remain an ongoing focus for Indian Railways.

This information was shared by Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology, in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.