The railway stations in the city are reaching out to disabled passengers and will ensure that their movement across the platforms is more comfortable.

A total of 18 escalators will be installed at various city stations, giving passengers relief from endless number of stairs. On the anvil is a plan to install elevators at stations, and a feasibility study is being conducted at platforms of New Delhi station.

Three sets of escalators (up and down) have been sanctioned for the Old Delhi railway station. Eleven sets of escalators have been approved to for the New Delhi station and Hazrat Nizamuddin station will get two pairs of escalators.

One set of escalators each will be installed at Faridabad and Shahdara stations.

“The idea is to ensure that the railway stations are disabled friendly. The premises of the railway stations are also being upgraded to make them passenger friendly,” Divisional Railway Manager A K Sachan said.

During his recent visit to the New Delhi railway station, Railways Minister Pawan Bansal reiterated the need to improve the connectivity between platforms through the use of escalators and elevators.

There are three escalators at New Delhi station — all in Ajmeri Gate (platforms 14 to 16). The new scheme will bring escalators or elevators to all platforms of New Delhi.

Officials said escalators will be installed starting from the Paharganj side of the station — from platform 6 to 13. For platforms 2 to 5, a feasibility study is being conducted to install elevators.

The New Delhi station receives a passenger footfall of nearly 3.6 lakh daily.

“The feasibility study is being conducted to find where on platforms can the lifts be installed. Customised lifts will have to be installed. The dimension of the intermediate platforms, vis-a vis lifts, is being analysed,” Additional Divisional Railway Manager R K Rai said.

At Old Delhi Station, one escalator will be installed at the main entrance and another on Platform 16 (the second entrance to the station). At present, the station has only one escalator.

At Hazrat Nizammudin, escalators will be installed at the Comesum restaurant side and Platform 1, leading to Sarai Kale Khan.

Officials said the installation of the escalators will be completed by June 2013.