| Illegal travel in disabled coaches accounts for 37% of offences on Central Railway till May - The Ti by nikhilndls on 24 July, 2013 - 12:00 PM | ||
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 nikhilndls | Illegal travel in disabled coaches accounts for 37% of offences on Central Railway till May - The Ti on 24 July, 2013 - 12:00 PM | |
MUMBAI: Thirty seven percent of the offences registered on Central Railway from January to May this year pertain to illegal travel in coaches reserved for the disabled. Figures compiled by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) also show that men caught travelling in ladies compartments accounted for a measly 3%.The city police recently issued a circular warning its personnel against commuting in coaches reserved for the disabled. This came after repeated letters penned by the RPF about altercations between plainclothed cops and disabled commuters inside coaches."The biggest deterrent would be a harsh fine, between Rs 1500-2000. Presently, there's no fear of the law amongst people travelling in disabled coaches as the maximum penalty is Rs 500. Certain railway courts levy penalties as low as Rs 200 or so. The very reason why commuters think twice before illegally boarding a first-class compartment is the large fine they would need to shell out," says Jeetubhai Karelia of the Disability Advocacy Group, which fights for disabled commuters' rights. The group intends to travel to Delhi next month to meet members of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment."Amongst the highest number of alarm-chain pulling instances are those reported in the disabled coach. This is because of overcrowding, a survey says these coaches are packed 134% beyong capacity. The railways have now allowed pregnant women and cancer patients to commute in the disabled coach, but they are often accompanied by their relatives as well which is illegal," adds Karelia. | ||