Maligaon, November 13 (MExN): As a part of social initiatives, Indian Railways are constructing Divyang (differently abled people) friendly toilets in stations with significant footfalls all over the zone. This is in addition to other facilities which are being provided to Divyang such as online booking of wheelchairs and Braille enabled new coaches, stated a press release from P. J. Sharma, Chief Public Relations Officer. In an effort to ease the inconvenience faced by the Divyang in accessing toilet facilities in stations premises, Indian Railways under the instruction of Railway Minister Piyush Goyal has decided to provide Divyang friendly toilets in all its stations, totaling 351 all over the zone. N.F. Railway has 543 stations, of which 125 are halt stations (stations where no mail express trains stop and which do not have any permanently posted railway staff). Of the remaining 418 stations, 67 have Divyang friendly toilets, which leave 351 stations to be provided with such toilets. In current financial year, 141 stations have been provided with Divyang friendly toilets and in remaining 210 stations construction work are in progress, to be completed by December 31, added the release. The main features of these toilets are: The entry / exit ramp with proper slope of minimum 1 in 12 are provided, non-slippery ramp, pathway and floor are provided in this type of toilets, hand rail with vertical grab bar are provided, minimum width of the entry / exit door is kept at 900 mm for proper accessing of wheel chair, signage with bigger letter size is provided, hand basin at low height of 680 mm is also provided for easy use.
