OREANDA-NEWS. Delhi Metro is going to launch a special drive at its originating stations on Saturday and Sunday to facilitate the smooth entry and seating of senior citizens and commuters with disabilities inside the Metro trains.

The drive will be conducted on weekends (Saturday and Sunday) starting from this Saturday, 29th June, 2013 and will continue for a month. The stations which will be covered by this drive are Dilshad Garden, Rithala, HUDA City Centre, Jahangirpuri, Dwarka Sector 21, NOIDA City Centre and Vaishali.

As part of the drive, special teams comprising of Customer Relations Assistants (CRA) and guards will be deputed at these stations, who will facilitate the entry and then seating of the senior citizens and commuters with disabilities inside the trains.The concerned commuters are advised to contact the Customer Care Centres at the stations or the station personnel (phone numbers attached) for any such assistance.

The Station Managers of the respective stations will supervise the entire exercise and the Operations Managers, in charge of the respective corridors will ensure that the drive is conducted properly at both the originating stations under their purview.

This special drive is being organized to raise awareness about the proper utilization of the reserved seats for the senior citizens and the differently abled. Through this drive, the senior citizens, the commuters with disabilities and the other commuters will become more aware about the presence of reserved seats inside the trains. Based on the feedback, the drive might be extended for some more time to certain other stations of the network.

The Delhi Metro staff will also counsel the general commuters about the importance of vacating the reserved seats for the senior citizens as well as the commuters with disabilities.

Presently, each six coach train has a total of 64 seats reserved for the senior citizens and the commuters with disabilities. In the eight coach trains, the number of reserved seats increases to 88.

Delhi Metro accords the highest priority to the convenience of the senior citizens as well as the commuters with disabilities. Facilities such as wheelchairs, lifts, wide AFC Gates, ramps near the Metro train doors are provided at all the stations for their convenience. Dedicated paths have also been designed for the smooth entry of the visually impaired commuters in to the trains.

The Metro staff is also provided special training to attend to such commuters. Recently, the staff deputed at the stations have also been provided training in sign language so that they can establish communication with the hearing and speaking impaired commuters.