Passengers with disabilities experienced difficulties at Pune railway station on Monday, as the absence of a ramp linking the main entrance to platform number 1, along with the limited availability of accessible routes to other platforms, continued to cause inconvenience.
The situation worsened when the primary escalator to the new foot overbridge (FOB) was temporarily closed for maintenance, forcing passengers with mobility difficulties to rely on other routes to reach the platform.tforms.
Passengers entering the station through the main entrance do not have a direct ramp to access platform number 1, making it difficult for wheelchair users and others with mobility challenges to reach the platform on their own.
To get to the other platforms, passengers often have to depend on foot overbridges, where accessibility provisions remain limited. The shutdown of the main escalator linking the new foot overbridge on Monday further worsened the situation.
With the escalator out of service, passengers were forced to use alternative routes, leading to longer and more strenuous movement within the station.
The situation was especially difficult for wheelchair users, elderly passengers, and those who struggle with climbing stairs or walking long distances.
Passengers stated that accessibility features at a major railway station like Pune should be planned so that persons with disabilities can move independently between the entrance and the platforms, without relying on help from others.
Work is also in progress to create a holding area near platform number 1, where benches have been installed for passengers waiting for trains.
This space previously served as an entry point for passengers accessing platform number 1, but that access is now being shut as part of the ongoing modifications.
The closure has further changed how passengers move towards the platform, making it especially crucial to provide convenient and accessible alternative routes for disabled and elderly passengers.
Passengers argued that accessibility should never be compromised when a facility is temporarily out of service. If an escalator is closed for maintenance, there must be a clearly indicated alternative route that is easy for disabled and elderly passengers to use.
Passengers, however, noted that although the presence of an alternative FOB offers some relief, clearer signage and a continuous accessible route from the station’s main entrance are essential to ensure that persons with disabilities can travel independently.
They also called on railway authorities to complete maintenance work on accessibility infrastructure as quickly as possible and to ensure that alternative facilities remain clearly accessible throughout such periods.