CHENNAI: The Madras HC on Monday directed Southern Railway to submit a list of railway stations where accessibility facilities for persons with disabilities have been provided and adjourned the hearing of two PILs on the issue to next week.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice S A Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan was hearing a PIL filed by Chennai-based disability rights activist Vaishnavi Jayakumar seeking directions to make railway stations, train coaches and related infrastructure barrier-free and compliant with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
The petitioner contended that several railway stations continue to lack basic accessibility features such as accessible toilets, tactile pathways and barrier-free access. The plea also highlighted the absence of safe inter-platform transfer facilities, including ramped foot overbridges, lifts and other mechanisms that would enable independent movement for persons with disabilities.
The court also heard a separate PIL filed by Chennai resident and wheelchair user D Gnana Bharathi seeking accessibility facilities at Perambur railway station, which is being redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. The petitioner alleged that the station lacks seamless inter-platform access and other essential features, and sought lift access to every platform where ramped foot overbridges are not feasible.
During the hearing, Southern Railway informed the court that it would file a detailed list of stations where accessibility measures have already been implemented. Recording the submission, the bench also asked the petitioner to file relevant documents before the next hearing.
