The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed that battery-powered passenger vehicles be made available at all railway stations under the Madurai and Tiruchirappalli railway divisions within six months. The order was passed by a bench comprising Justices Velmurugan and Ramakrishnan while hearing a petition filed by Vimalanathan, a resident of Thanjavur.
Only 11 of 251 Stations Have the Facility
In his petition, Vimalanathan highlighted the limited availability of battery car services at railway stations and sought directions to ensure that the facility was accessible to passengers who need assistance, particularly senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
According to the petition, battery car services were introduced at Tiruchirappalli Railway Station in 2017. The service was initially provided free of charge, but passengers have reportedly been charged for using it since 2018. In contrast, the petitioner stated that battery car services at Madurai Railway Station are provided free of charge.
The petition also pointed out that the Madurai and Tiruchirappalli railway divisions together have 251 railway stations, but battery car facilities are available at only 11 of them. This limited coverage, the petitioner argued, creates difficulties for passengers who face mobility challenges while travelling through large railway premises.
Vimalanathan further referred to Railway Board circulars, which, according to the petition, provide for free battery car services for persons with disabilities and senior citizens. He sought a direction to ensure that the service at Tiruchirappalli Railway Station was also provided free of charge.
Key details raised in the petition:
- Battery car services were introduced at Tiruchirappalli Railway Station in 2017.
- The petitioner stated that charges have been collected for the service since 2018.
- Free battery car services are reportedly available at Madurai Railway Station.
- Only 11 of the 251 stations in the two railway divisions have the facility, according to the petition.
After hearing the matter, the bench comprising Justices Velmurugan and Ramakrishnan directed that battery car facilities be established at all railway stations within six months.
The order is expected to improve accessibility across railway stations and make passenger movement easier for elderly travellers and persons with disabilities. The six-month deadline places the responsibility on the concerned railway authorities to expand the facility across the two divisions.
