Chennai: Parking lots for disabled persons in Chennai Central and Egmore stations have been encroached upon by abled persons. The disabled persons’ federation has issued a notice to southern railway and demanded strict action. The members said they would come in large numbers to Central station and block the movement of vehicles there next week if the area is not cleared.
Narrating the difficulty in parking three-wheeler motorcycles of disabled persons, T.M.N. Deepak of the national committee on the rights of persons with disabilities said, “Southern railway has provided space at Central station for disabled persons to park their bikes; these need more space than normal bikes because of the special design.
But the parking space is encroached by private cars, taxis and ordinary two-wheelers.” He said this forces the disabled to leave their vehicles far away from the rail station and reach the station with difficulty.
B. Chandrakumar (40), a polio victim, has stopped going to Egmore station on his bike. “The parking lot is always occupied by others. I take an auto from my house in Perambur to reach Egmore station.
Often, I am forced to park my bike far away from the station, as the parking space is invariably full,” said Chandrakumar, adding that he has filed several complaints with the railway police and station master on the issue.
Southern railway officials said they were unable to stop this misuse. “We take stringent measures. In manÂy cases, we levy a fine. But normal people continue to violate the rules and park their cars and bikes in the parking lot meant for disabled persons,” they said.
