K Shiva Kumar By

MYSURU: The visually challenged-friendly Mysuru railway station has now added one more feather in its cap.

The country’s first visually challenged-friendly train runs between it and Varanasi.

The bi-weekly train in fitted with metal Braille signage to help the visually challenged locate coaches, seats, alarm chains, toilets and emergency windows.

The Mysuru division of the South Western Railway wants to extend the facility to Mysuru-Talaguppa, Mysuru-Tirupati, Mysore -Mayilatuthurai Express trains before March end.

Divisional Railway Manager Rajkumar Lal said the introduction of Braille signage in coaches is in line with his concern for the visually challenged.

“I can see many of the visually challenged struggle and ask people for directions to ticket counters, platforms, railway coaches and seats”, he said. Lal said it took Rs 2 lakh and two months to get the train fitted with Braille signage by a Bengaluru-based company.

“I will see that this is done (in three other trains) before March-end using Member of Parliament Local Area Development Fund’, he said.

Mohan, a visually challenged person, lauded the railways for the measure.

He said one can travel in the train alone without assistance from others and hoped that it would be implemented in all trains in the country.

The Mysuru railway station had recently installed navigation maps in Braille to guide the visually impaired to reach platforms.

Terminal at Kadakola

SWR Divisional Manager Rajkumar Lal said a proposal has been sent to establish a terminal with six platforms near Kadakola between Mysuru and Nanjangud at a cost of Rs 67 crore.

He said a terminal at Kengeri would also help run a few more trains between Bengaluru and Mysuru.

The railway division has also sought one more train between Mysuru and Tirupati and two more express trains between Mysuru and Benglauru that would run 30 minutes behind Chamundi Express.

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