Aurangabad, Jan 25:
The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) has provided one wheelchair at the Central Bus Stand, but it has come to notice that the elderly citizens and disabled persons are pushed to face inconvenience due to absence of boards mentioning the location of the wheelchair. Adding to the woes, the employees on duty were also unaware of it.
MSRTC claims of providing one each wheelchair at Central Bus Stand and Cidco Bus Stand. However, the facility remains out of reach as most of the staff is unaware of the wheelchair and its exact location. Hence the ageing citizens or disabled persons are forced to board the bus by taking pains.
As reported earlier, the state government has directed to develop and upgrade facilities at bus stands, railway stations, tourist places, government offices etc. so that the physically disabled or elderly persons do not face any inconvenience.
Meanwhile, it is observed the availability of wheelchair at Central Bus Stand is of no use as there is no ramp built for the mobilisation of elders or disableds through the wheelchair. Around 250 buses arrive and take departures from the main bus stand, and more than 3,000 passengers board these buses daily.
According to an ST officer S A Shinde, " The wheelchair is available at our bus stand for the past one and a half year. It is in cabin number 5. The wheelchair is utilised by less number of citizens. However, we will ensure that the senior citizens and physically disabled persons know about it and avail the facility. We will put on displays at the entrance and other locations on campus so that the citizens could know about it."
According to a passenger, Uttam Jadhav, " I arrived in Aurangabad from Bhokardhan to board the bus for Pune. I was experiencing trouble while walking. The staff told us that there is no wheelchair on the bus stand. Hence I had to take help of a walking stick and walk till the bus and board it. Had I got the wheelchair, the pain experienced while walking could have been not there."