Plea to provide free battery operated vehicle services at Madurai and Tiruchi Railway Junctions

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Wednesday directed the Central government and the Southern Railway to file a report to a public interest litigation petition that sought a direction to the authorities to provide battery operated vehicle services at Madurai and Tiruchi railway junctions free of cost.

A Division Bench of Justices P. Velmurugan and K.K. Ramakrishnan was hearing the petition filed by Swamimalai Sundara Vimalanathan of Kumbakonam in Thanjavur district.

The petitioner said battery operated vehicles were provided at railway stations as a mobility-assistance facility for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, and other needy passengers.

Battery operated vehicle services were introduced in Tiruchi railway junction in 2017 and were initially provided free of cost. However, from 2018 onwards the service was converted into a paid facility and ₹30 was collected per passenger for the service, he said.