Kochi Metro gets thumbs up for accessibility features

It has been over a year since the Kochi metro started functioning. Undoubtedly, Kochi metro is the one of the most accessible metros in India today. They have got thumbs up for their exceptional and remarkable accessibility features that reach out to people with all kinds of disabilities.

Some of their noticeable features are disabled friendly ticket counters with lowered windows, wheelchair ramps at all station entrances, exits and platforms, safety docking facilities inside the trains, wide AFC gates to accommodate wheelchair users, tactile tiles for visually impaired passengers, marked seats for disabled passengers and audible and visible information across all stations to name a few.

Mr Mohammad Hanish IAS is the Managing Director of Kochi Metro. He says that the city’s metro service stands out for its unique accessibility and disabled friendly features.

One of Kochi metro’s striking factors is that is it accessible and disabled friendly. We have been focussing on this aspect from the beginning of construction of the metro. Our facilities are highly advanced. We have wheelchair ramps in all the stations and accessibility features for blind people like tactile paths and so on. Our Kudumbasree volunteers at the stations are trained to reach out to people with all kinds of disabilities-Mohammad Hanish IAS, Managing Director, Kochi Metro

A few disabled people in Kochi, who are regular users of the Kochi Metro, speak about how accessible and disabled friendly the service is.

Rajeev Palluruthy is a wheelchair user from Kochi. He is the Secretary of the All Kerala Wheelchair Rights Federation as well.

“Travelling in Kochi metro is my first experience on a metro train. It is an ideal mode of transport for people with all kinds of disabilities. They have exclusive wheelchair ramps and lifts that take us till the platforms and even to the exit. Inside the trains, they have facilities where you can lock the wheelchair along with exclusive seats for disabled passengers. It is one of the best disabled friendly government ventures that I have come across”, says Palluruthy.

Neeraj George, a para badminton player from Kochi, is a regular user of Kochi metro. George highly recommends Kochi metro services.

“I have travelled in other metros too. But Kochi metro is the most accessible and barrier-free one that I have come across. There are lifts till the platforms which makes it easy for people with all kinds of disabilities. They also have announcements at regular intervals which are informative. I would totally recommend this to disabled people”, says George.

Ever since its launch, Kochi metro has been in the news for all the good reasons. They employed transgender persons as their staffs, which is first of its kind in India. They are also one of the first metros in the country to be completed in just a span of just four years. Now, with the accessibility features getting great reviews, Kochi metro is truly soaring heights.

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