Differently-abled want Metro to be sensitive to their needs
Though Delhi Metro is the most preferred means of transport for several differently-abled people in the national capital, they want the management to conduct mock drills on a regular basis to educate them about the special facilities being offered by the rail system.
Though Delhi Metro is the most preferred means of transport for several differently-abled people in the national capital, they want the management to conduct mock drills on a regular basis to educate them about the special facilities being offered by the rail system.
“Metro should conduct orientation programmes to educate all kind of differently-abled people, including the visually and other physically handicapped people. Many people do not know about the places where braille tracks are available on the metro premises,” said Kapil, an MPhil student of Delhi University.
Kapil is member of the Young Boys’ Association - mostly a group of differently-abled students from Delhi University and Jamia Milia, which in the past has petitioned the DMRC management, listing their demands and suggestions. The students also complain about the insenstivity of escorts provided by the Metro management to any differently-abled person who seeks the service. The students say if more and more people are aware about the facilities, they would be less dependent on the volunteers.
“Often, they leave you at the wrong place and we end up either landing oustide a crowded door of the trains or amidst the rushing crowd on the station. Anyway, do not want to be dependent on others,” said Ritesh, an MEd student of Jamia Milia. The Metro management says it’s not possible for them to conduct such orientation programmes on a regular basis, although they would, “if they are in larger public interest,” said Mohinder Yadav, DMRC.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Metro on Saturday completed nine years of operations in the national capital. The first Metro service was started on December 24, 2002 between Shahdara and Tis Hazari and now has a network of nearly 200 km, including the high-speed Airport Express Corridor.
