Mumbai: In a bid to reduce the burden of senior citizens travelling in suburban trains, the Indian Railways has decided to convert one of its coaches into a separate compartment for senior citizens. However, the High Court on Wednesday expressed displeasure over the delay by the railway administration for the work order. He also directed the railway authorities to complete the work at the earliest.
A division bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay and Justice Amit Borkar also directed the railway administration to allow senior citizens to travel through Maldaba till a separate coach is made available for them in the local trains. After this, the railway administration assured the court that a separate compartment will be made available in the local train for senior citizens within two years.
Senior citizens have to face many difficulties while traveling in central and western suburban local trains. A few seats are reserved in each train for senior citizens. However, considering the crowd in suburban local trains, senior citizens are not able to reach those places. As a solution to the problems faced by senior citizens, a separate compartment should be made available for senior citizens like disabled passengers. . Nair through a public interest litigation.
In response to a petition filed by the Divisional Commercial Manager of the Western Railway, the Western and Central Railways had last year recommended to the Railway Board to change the seventh coach of the local train from the Maldaba (Churchgate) direction. Similarly, a proposal was sent to designate this compartment as a special compartment for senior citizens. The proposal was approved by the Railway Board on February 27 this year after studying the feasibility and cost of the project.
Nair's plea was heard on Wednesday. The matter was then reported to the court. The bench was also informed by the Railways that 155 coaches of the Central Railway and 105 coaches of the Western Railway will be converted into senior citizen coaches in the next two years. However, the court has not decided on the matter yet. He also directed the railway authorities to complete the work as soon as possible.
