World class disabled-unfriendly railway station

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It seems promises remain only as promises when it comes to Ernakulam Junction.

While able-bodied commuters wait for the “world-class railway station”, it offers no comfort for the disabled.

There is no way by which disabled people who alight at platform five and six can reach the main entry other than by taking the two-km long road via South RoB.

The Railways is also not implementing its own circular of 1998 for providing such commuters amenities including separate toilets.

Though there is a low-height ticket window at the main entry, most of the time it remains closed.

This, at a time when the Railway Board repeatedly reiterated its commitment to convert railway stations falling under category A1, A and B into disabled-friendly stations. Ernakulam Junction falls in the second category.

“Every day, there are at least 20 to 30 disabled passengers who arrive at the station, but there is no trolley path from platform six or five.

The escalators, the ideal ones, may be a luxury but the trolley path is a basic amenity,” said Paul K. J. Manvattom, president of All Kerala Railway Users Association.

Despite the station being the highest revenue earning one in the division, there is not even an upper class waiting room, he said, adding that a memorandum has been filed in this regard.The station has other shortcomings too.

There are no facilities for passengers coming through the eastern entry to locate their trains in the absence of an LED display or information centre.

Also, one of the foot overbridges has no roof, making it difficult for commuters, especially when it rains.