From Our Correspondent
GUWAHATI: As a part of its social initiatives, Indian Railways are constructing Divyang (differently abled people) friendly toilets in stations with significant footfalls all over the zone. This is in addition to other facilities which are being provided to Divyang like online booking of wheelchairs and Braille enabled new coaches.
In an effort to ease the inconvenience faced by the differently abled in accessing toilet facilities in stations premises, Indian Railways under the instruction of Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, has decided to provide Divyang friendly toilets in all its stations. Under this drive, NF Railway would be providing such toilets in 351 stations all over the zone.
NF Railway has 543 stations, of which 125 are halt stations (stations where no mail express trains stop and which do not have any permanently posted railway staff). Of the remaining 418 stations, 67 already have divyang friendly toilets which leaves 351 stations to be provided with such toilets.
In current financial year, 141 stations have already been provided with Divyang friendly toilets and in remaining 210 stations construction work is in progress, to be completed by December 31, 2018.
The main features of these toilets include the entry / exit ramp with proper slope, non-slippery ramp, pathway and floor, hand rail with vertical grab bar are provided for proper grip, the minimum width of the entry / exit door is kept at 900 mm for proper accessing of wheel chair so that person using crutches and wheel chairs can easily enter inside and use the toilets.
Moreover, signage with bigger letter size is provided. Hand basin at low height of 680 mm is also provided for easy use by Divyang.