The Minister of Railways, Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu said that the Indian Railways is fulfilling its social obligations towards Divyang, senior citizens and women travelers. Presenting the Railway Budget 2016-17 in Parliament today he said, for the Divyang, the Railways has introduced one-time registration for availing concessions while booking tickets online, online booking of wheelchairs and Braille enabled new coaches.

He said for senior citizens and women travelers, increased quota of lower berths has been provided. In the coming financial year, the Railways is increasing the senior citizen quota per coach by 50%, resulting in almost 120 lower berths per train for senior citizens. It has added more escalators and lifts and reserved middle bays in coaches for women security.

Accessibility measures for disabled travellers expand rail concessions and facilities, with enhanced senior quotas and reserved women bays. Railway policy establishes one time online registration for concession entitlement and online wheelchair booking for Divyang, introduces Braille enabled coaches, increases lower berth allocations for senior citizens, reserves middle bays for women security, and adds escalators and lifts to improve station accessibility and passenger safety.