Three years after Bombay high court order, Central Railway puts cameras in handicapped coach -
TNN | Feb 7, 2020, 11.46 AM IST Printed from MUMBAI: Three years after Bombay high court directed the railways to install CCTV cameras in coaches for the handicapped, they have been installed in one 12-coach Central Railway rake. Disabled commuters have long demanded cameras for security as other commuters often travel in those coaches. Last year, over 23,700 people were prosecuted for unauthorised travel in coaches for the handicapped on CR and Rs 59 lakh was collected in fines. While disposing of a petition in 2017, the HC had directed that cameras be installed in coaches for the handicapped and on platforms outside those coaches. The railways had sought a year as tendering and work orders take time. But three years passed before a rake could be fitted with cameras. "Attacks on disabled commuters continue. Recently, a transgender who had barged into the coach for the disabled assaulted me," said activist Nitin Gaikwad, who had filed the HC petition. Government staffers often travel in coaches for the disabled fearlessly. On Wednesday, a CBI employee was caught. "CCTV cameras will have a deterrent effect. No government servant would want to be caught on camera and be pulled up at their workplace," said Gaikwad. Bharat Desai, a disabled commuter, said the railways should speed up mounting of cameras in rakes. "Signs must be put up outside coaches warning unauthorised travellers of cameras being mounted. Only then will unauthorised travel stop," Desai said. The HC had also directed railways to maintain a register of complaints, received via phone, texts or WhatsApp, from disabled travellers. Copies of extracts from the register should be made available to complainants, the court directed. Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ To unsubscribe send a message to accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in 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..
