Suggestions for Infrastructure & Service Improvement of Dimapur Railway Station

To The Divisional Manager NF Railway I write on behalf of Persons with Disability of Nagaland. As per Census 2011, there are 29,631 people with various disabilities in Nagaland. There is an urgent need to ensure that any infrastructure and service improvement work at the Dimapur Railway Station makes railway travel easier for disabled passengers of the state as well as those coming from other states. Some of the most basic but urgent measures and facilities needed are: 1. Ramps with proper gradient and holding bars on both sides should be added at the entrance and all areas necessary to allow wheelchairs to enter and move around in the station easily 2. Based on variables such as number of trains per day, average daily passenger traffic at the station (5% of which can be assumed to be people with disabilities including Senior Citizens), etc, suitable solutions and devices should be provided for passengers to safely get into and off the train. Options here include low cost, foldable ramps. 3. Wheelchairs must be provided at the station which passengers who cannot walk long distances or stand for long periods can avail of. A booth/counter must be set up where this service can be availed. Clear signboards and information must be put up at the booth/counter and also at strategic points, such as at the entrance area, to inform passengers of the service. 4. A designated area must be identified for boarding and de-boarding of passengers with disability. Porters with wheelchairs must be made available in this area or a wheelchair service booth set up nearby. This reserved area must be close to the disability reserved coach and must have proper markings, display and colours for safety. 5. Electronic audio-visual signboards and announcements displays must be put up at the platforms and other areas of the station for passengers who are deaf or blind 6. One ticket booking window should have lower height for wheelchair passengers and people of short stature 7. Disability Parking: Some spaces close to the entrance must be reserved as Disability Parking for vehicles bringing or picking up passengers with disability 8. Accessible Toilets: Provision of reserved accessible toilets for both men and women with disability. This is very, very important and very urgently needed. As stated above, these are just a few of the most basic measures and facilities that must be provided at the earliest. It doesn’t need to be a big deal or a big cost to the project. And Dimapur being a small station, it will not be difficult to make it as barrier-free and disabled friendly as possible – we only need to see it as an opportunity, not a problem. I, along with my colleagues, am most willing to partner you in giving ideas and suggestions so that Dimapur can become a role model accessible Railway Station in the country. Please do get in touch for any further information or discussion. We look forward to positive action that will make Dimapur Railway Station accessible and barrier free.

With kind regards, Diethono Nakhro Disability Rights Advocate Nagaland Member, National Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities