KOCHI: There is good news for elderly and physically-challenged persons arriving at railway stations as they can avail the facility of battery operated cars to move to platforms from main entrance. The Southern Railways has tied up with Maini Material Movements Pvt Ltd (MMM) to operate buggies at Ernakulam Junction (ERS), Thiruvananthapuram (TVC), Thrissur (TCR), Kollam Jn (QLN), Kottayam (KTYM), Alappuzha (ALP), Guruvayur (GUV), Nagercoil Jn and Kanniyakumari (CAPE).
An amount of Rs 30 will be charged per head per trip in main stations like TVC, QLN, KTYM, ERS and TCR while the ticket rate will be Rs 40 in all other stations. Three cars will be deployed in Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram. "There will be an option at the IRCTC website to book the buggy service in advance while booking train tickets," said Ernakulam Station Director R Harikrishnan while launching the services at Ernakulam Junction station.
Only computerised hand held machine is used for doling out tickets and the service is provided round the clock. Also a dedicated mobile number (for instance 9008031998 at Ernakulam Junction) has been provided for enabling commuters to avail the facility quickly. "The cart driver should have a valid Light Motor Vehicle licence and ID card and should not work for more than 10 hours on a stretch," an official said.
Though the first buggy service was introduced at Ernakulam Junction station in January 2016 after the alumni of St Teresa's college donated one for the benefit for senior citizens, it was however discontinued soon. We'd to discontinue it soon as the railway rules didn't permit the crossing of such vehicles over tracks. In effect a commuter can't be taken to platform No 2, 3, 4 and five. Now the railway board has cleared its operation to other platforms and removed the track crossing restriction," the officer said.
