Kohima: The Nagaland State Transport Department has announced the implementation of Section 41 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. This section ensures accessible transportation facilities at bus stops, railway stations, and airports for persons with disabilities (PwDs).
It mandates that parking spaces, toilets, ticketing counters, and ticketing machines adhere to accessibility standards. Additionally, the act provides incentives and concessions to enhance the mobility of PwDs.
To facilitate this, the Transport Department has outlined modalities to extend free travel facilities in Nagaland State Transport (NST) passenger buses for PwDs within the state.
The Transport Department informed that for identification of Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBDs) to avail Free Travel Facilities in NST, Unique Disability Identify (UDID) Card issued from the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Government of India, or valid Disability Certificate issued by a competent Authorised Medical Board, shall be prerequisite for eligibility.
Free Travel Pass will be issued from the Office of the General Manager, NST, Nagaland, Dimapur, on payment of Rs 50, renewable after 2(two) years against payment of Rs 20 only, and in case of any damage/lost, new Free Travel Pass shall be issued on payment of Rs 50. The applicants may submit their applications directly to the Office of the General Manager, NST, Nagaland, Dimapur, or through the District NST Office.
Companion, if any, of the PwBDs shall have to pay full fare against prior reservation on request to occupy a seat next to the PwBDs. However, for a PwD with 80%, or more disabilities or multiple disabilities who require assistance, free travel bus travel facility will be allowed to one associate/assistant.
It also informed that Free Travel Facility for PwDs is permissible for both to and from including break journey or from the originating to the terminating station shall be considered as completion of one stretch of journey. Free Travel Facility shall be limited to 4 (four) seats in a particular bus in open space behind the Driver’s seat in the first and second row. The seat shall be reserved and marked accordingly.
Dear Reader,
Every day, our team at EastMojo travels through rain, rough roads, and remote hills to bring you stories that matter – stories from your town, your people, your Northeast.
We do this because we believe in truthful, independent journalism. No big corporate backing, no government pressure – just honest reporting by local journalists who live and breathe the same air you do.
But to keep doing this work, we need you. Your small contribution helps us pay our reporters fairly, reach places others ignore, and keep asking the tough questions.
If you believe the Northeast deserves its own fearless voice, stand with us.
Support independent journalism. Be a Member.
Thank you,
Karma Paljor
Editor-in-Chief, eastmojo.com
For availing the facilities, a request in advance or at least one day ahead of departure of the bus, shall be preferred subject to availability of seat for that purpose. This Free Travel Facility shall be non-transferable, and any imposter so detected shall be liable to prosecution. Any Pass that is misused shall be cancelled, the Department added.
The notification is issued with the concurrence of the Finance Department and supersession to the Transport Department’s notification dated January 15, 1989.
Also Read | How a ‘fake’ scientist caused unease among Nagaland’s science community