Now, Mysuru railway station is visually challenged-friendly

South Western Railways (SWR), Mysuru division, on Tuesday introduced Braille-enabled signage tactile maps, menu cards and train schedule boards for their benefit at the main railway station, in the city.

The railway authorities, in association with ‘Anuprayaas’, an NGO working for the welfare of visually challenged persons, have introduced the facilities for specially-abled passengers. With this, SWR has become the first among Indian Railways to introduce such facilities.

It includes Braille signage (metallic signage for platform number has been installed on staircase railings and platforms), framed tactile maps (blueprint of the Railway station describing the location and distance measured in steps for entrance, platforms, counters, washrooms, waiting rooms, enquiry counters etc), framed schedule of trains at Mysore (arrival and departure timings), menu cards, basic directional signage, etc. Till the community is aware of the facilities, the volunteers from the NGO will help them.

MP Prathap Simha inaugurated these facilities. Divisional Railway Manager Rajkumar Lal complimented the MP for contributing from his Local Area Development (LAD) Fund for various amenities created recently and further support.

The railways has already received grants of over Rs 40 lakh from MPLAD Fund. Two battery operated carts for inter-platform transfer of senior citizens or sick passengers and physically-challenged and a station navigation system will be added by this month-end.