CHENNAI: The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Wednesday directed Southern Railway to file a comprehensive report within 15 days on the number of railway stations in the Madurai and Tiruchy divisions where free battery-operated car services are provided to persons with disabilities, senior citizens, pregnant women and other passengers needing mobility assistance.

The Division Bench of Justices P Velmurugan and KK Ramakrishnan also asked the railway authorities to give details of the charges collected for battery-operated car services in various States.

The court issued the direction while hearing a public interest litigation filed by Sundara Vimal Nathan, 64, of Swamimalai in Thanjavur district. Citing information obtained under the Right to Information Act, the petitioner said the battery car service at Tiruchy Junction was not being provided free to persons with disabilities, senior citizens and other vulnerable passengers.

The petitioner said the service was free when it was introduced at the junction in 2017, but the Railways have been charging Rs 30 per passenger since 2018, while the same service is free at Madurai railway station.

He pointed out that, under the Railway Board’s commercial circulars, battery car service is to be provided free to persons with disabilities, senior citizens, pregnant women and other passengers needing mobility assistance. The cars are reportedly procured through CSR funds and government welfare schemes meant for vulnerable people.

He further said that only six of the 101 stations in the Madurai division and five of the 151 stations in the Tiruchi division have battery car facilities, which means only 11 of the 252 stations in the two divisions.

The petitioner also cited an incident on August 9, 2026, when M Kamaraj, a person with a disability, arrived at Tiruchy Junction with his elderly mother. He could not get a battery car for more than two hours despite attempts by Railway Protection Force personnel to contact the operators. Denied a wheelchair, he had to crawl along the platform, she alleged.

The petitioner sought directions to install signboards marking the places where the cars stand, and to properly implement grievance redressal systems, including the 139 helpline.

The court adjourned the hearing after directing the Railways to file the report.