Karwar: The Konkan Railway has eased conditions for orthopaedically handicapped and paraplegic persons/patients availing rail travel concessions. Konkan Railway has eased conditions for orthopaedically handicapped and paraplegic persons/patients availing rail travel concessions.

Till now, orthopaedically handicapped, paraplegic persons/patients who were availing rail travel concessions, if found travelling alone without an escort, which was mandatory, were treated as travelling without ticket and were being charged with penalty as per the applicable rules issued from the Ministry of Railways.

However, this condition will be relaxed with effect from June 15. It has now been permitted to orthopaedically handicapped, paraplegic persons/patients availing the concessions to travel even without escort, if they can, and they will not be treated as travelling without ticket and no penalty will be levied to them. Necessary instructions to this effect have been issued accordingly to the commercial staff on the Konkan Railway route. Such passengers are requested to kindly avail off the rail travel concession facility accordingly.