The New Indian Express MYSURU: The visually challenged-friendly Mysuru railway station has now added one more feather in its cap.
The country’s first visually challenged-friendly train runs between it and Varanasi. The bi-weekly train in fitted with metal Braille signage to help the visually challenged locate coaches, seats, alarm chains, toilets and emergency windows. The Mysuru division of the South Western Railway wants to extend the facility to Mysuru-Talaguppa, Mysuru-Tirupati, Mysore -Mayilatuthurai Express trains before March end. Divisional Railway Manager Rajkumar Lal said the introduction of Braille signage in coaches is in line with his concern for the visually challenged. “I can see many of the visually challenged struggle and ask people for directions to ticket counters, platforms, railway coaches and seats”, he said. Lal said it took Rs 2 lakh and two months to get the train fitted with Braille signage by a Bengaluru-based company. “I will see that this is done (in three other trains) before March-end using Member of Parliament Local Area Development Fund’, he said. Mohan, a visually challenged person, lauded the railways for the measure. He said one can travel in the train alone without assistance from others and hoped that it would be implemented in all trains in the country. The Mysuru railway station had recently installed navigation maps in Braille to guide the visually impaired to reach platforms. *Terminal at Kadakola* SWR Divisional Manager Rajkumar Lal said a proposal has been sent to establish a terminal with six platforms near Kadakola between Mysuru and Nanjangud at a cost of Rs 67 crore. He said a terminal at Kengeri would also help run a few more trains between Bengaluru and Mysuru. The railway division has also sought one more train between Mysuru and Tirupati and two more express trains between Mysuru and Benglauru that would run 30 minutes behind Chamundi Express. http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/Indias-1st-Blind-friendly-Train-Runs-Between-Mysuru-Varanasi/2016/01/26/article3245648.ece *What is new* - Mysuru-Varansi train is the first completely visually challenged-friendly in the country - Metal Braille signage installed to help locate berth numbers, toilets and emergency doors - Three more trains likely to have similar facilities before March *Its highly commendable that the government bodies and policy makers are thinking inclusive by putting up braille signages in the train and the Railway Station. While we appreciate the thought and effort, we need to think is it actually a solution that the visually impaired citizens of the country would benefit from ? Please share your views on the same.* *Meanwhile, here is what Mr. George Abraham has to say on this initiative. * *https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3kuEK6zvgE <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3kuEK6zvgE>* Regards Monica Verma Communications Officer Score Foundation Website: www.eyeway.org www.scorefoundation.org.in Eyeway Helpdesk: 1800-300-20469 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/projecteyeway/ Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of mobile phones / Tabs on: http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ To unsubscribe send a message to [email protected] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list..
