Easy on the disabled
UPLIFTING: Arnold demonstrates using a wheel chair on the platform lift — Pic: Samsul Said
This was a long time for them to go without proper facilities when commuting on the LRT.
To ensure the disabled have equal rights to proper facilities, Syarikat Prasarana Negara Berhad (Prasarana) has undertaken upgrading works since February of last year.
Prasarana infrastructure development group director Nor Hassan Ismail, said RM60 million was allocated to build disabled-friendly facilities at the 24 stations along the Ampang Line.
However, he said the upgrading work should have been done some 10 years ago.
"I admit when the Ampang line was taking route, not enough consideration was given to make the stations disabled-friendly," he said after taking newsmen on a tour of the newly-upgraded Cempaka station yesterday.
Besides Cempaka station, upgrading works at the Pandan Jaya station was completed last March. Cahaya and Pandan Indah stations are nearcompletion soon.
The other stations include Plaza Rakyat, Maluri, Miharja, Chan Sow Lin, Pudu, Cheras, Sentul, Salak South, Bandar Tun Razak, Sentul Timur, Sg Besi, Bukit Jalil, Sri Petaling, Ampang, Bandar Tasik Selatan, Bandaraya, Sultan Ismail and PWTC.
New disabled-friendly facilities were incorporated into stations were ramps, lifts, platform wheelchair lifts, tactile floors for the blind and proper toilets.
Other facilities for members of the public include escalators, surau and rain protectors to ensure commuters' comfort.
Nor Hassan said the upgrading process was targeted to be completed next year.
"Our main challenge in upgrading the stations while people were still using them."
Earlier, Euro Asia Access Solutions managing director Richard Arnold demonstrated to the Press and the public the use of the platform wheelchair lift. The company is responsible for providing disabled-friendly facilities at the stations.
Meanwhile, when asked on special coaches for the OKUs, Nor Hassan said they do not have plans for that yet.
"Our focus now is completing the upgrading work. Currently, the disabled are held in the coach behind the LRT driver," he said, adding if there is a need to group OKUs together in a coach, station staff can arrange for them to be placed in one coach for their convenience.
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