The Bombay High Court (HC) has asked the railways to expeditiously issue work order to convert one of the luggage compartments into a specialised senior citizen compartment similar to one for physically-challenged persons in Mumbai local trains.
A division bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Amit R Borkar informed that this conversion will be made in two years without hampering existing train services.
Till the time the modification / conversion takes place, the HC has asked the railway authorities to permit senior citizens to travel in the luggage compartment, as per a circular issued by Central Railways in July, this year.
The HC was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by advocate KPP Nair (66), who is a lawyer and retired senior private secretary of a judge, urging for a dedicated compartment highlighting the hardships faced by elderly while commuting in locals, especially during peak hours. He said he could relate to the hassles as travels daily between Bandra and Churchgate.
The PIL claimed that at least 50,000 senior citizens like him travel daily on suburban trains and during the peak hours even younger people find it difficult to enter the compartments.
The petition also stated that it would have two benefits – seats currently reserved for senior citizens in general compartments will go to the general passengers; and excess space which is available for reserved luggage passengers will be transferred to senior citizens.
An affidavit filed by Saurabh Kumar, Divisional Commercial Manager of Western Railway (WR) on behalf of respondent railway authorities stated that after the approval of respective General Managers of WR and Central Railways (CR), the detailed remarks were forwarded to the Railway Board.
The affidavit emphasised that modification will have to be undertaken in 105 rakes in WR and 155 rakes in CR.
It added that for Air-conditioned EMU rakes, existing provisions of earmarking 14 seats for senior citizens in the second and eleventh coach from Churchgate end will be continued.
At present, 12 coach local trains have four luggage compartments and 15 coach locals have five luggage compartment. The Railways Board undertook a feasibility study and the costs for the same, and approved the proposal on February 27 this year.
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