A group of 18 differently-abled kids along with their teachers took a ride in the Lucknow Metro on Monday. They travelled from Charbagh Metro Station to Transport Nagar Metro Station.
Chidren from the Drishti Samajik Sansthan — a non-government organisation working for the welfare and care of differently-abled children in Lucknow — appeared thrilled at their maiden ride of Lucknow Metro, which started operations only last week.
Mahendra Kumar, Director (Operations) with the Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation (LMRC), welcomed the group and briefed them about the unique facilities which Lucknow Metro provides for the differently-abled people.
Kumar told the children that Lucknow Metro was a completely “barrier-free” public mode of transport and every care had been taken for them right from the ground level of the station to the platform and concourse level of the Metro station and also inside the trains.
To ensure that the children get a real feel of the system, the visually impaired kids used the tactile path (based on braille) to board the lifts to reach the concourse. The LMRC station staff provided wheelchair support to the physically-disabled kids at the station. For the special kids who could not hear, the interpreter explained them through sign language.
The LMRC officials explained the history, growth, development and challenges of the Metro through the exhibition panel at Transport Nagar Metro Station. The children reached the platform through the elevator and boarded the first coach of the Metro.
Six-year-old Aradhna, who has difficulty in speaking coherently due to a medical issue kept telling officials of the Metro “Thank you”, “Namaste” and “It’s very good”. Rinki (15), who said she had never seen a train so far, said she was very happy to take the “Metro ride” which in her words was “better than bus”.
The LMRC Director (Operations) told IANS: “This is a very special and emotional moment for us. We wanted these special kids to be the first group of visitors to Lucknow Metro. Lucknow Metro has always been sensitive towards the differently-abled persons.”
