Disabled to get quota in 3AC lower berths

NEWDELHI: Now, differently-abled passengers will not face any problem in getting a lower berth in third AC coaches as the Indian Railways has fixed quota for ‘divyangs’ in 3AC of mail and express trains.

At present, there is a provision for lower berth quota only in sleeper classes.

The necessary software is being readied for this, said a senior railway ministry official.

The move comes close on the heels of an incident in which a wheelchair-bound para-athlete, Subarna Raj, was forced to sleep on the floor of Nagpur- Nizamuddin Garib Rath express after she failed to secure a lower berth in the train.

Railway minister Suresh Prabhu had ordered an inquiry into the incident and instructed corrective measures so that this does not happen again.

The quota facility for the differently-abled will be announced by railways this week.

To facilitate smooth entry into platforms, all stations are being made accessible for differentlyabled passengers.