Indian railways is set to come up with a system to allow differently abled people to book rail tickets online at concessional fares that they are entitled to. At present, differently abled people have to go to railway reservation counters to book tickets if they want to avail the fare concession given by railways.
The plan entails issuing of identity cards with specific numbers to each differently abled person which will be built into the computerized passenger reservation system (PRS) across the country.
Specific offices will be set up in zones and divisions where differently abled people can get their fare concession card made after producing a medical certificate.
Physically challenged people get fare concessions, have special reservation counters at railway stations and even special coaches on trains but cannot avail fare concessions while booking an e-ticket. They can book full fare tickets through the internet.
The move came after railway board received several complaints from differently abled passengers and social activists. The issue was also raised with Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation ( IRCTC), the PSU handling online ticketing operations.
