Dimapur: In a noble gesture, the Nagaland government has decided to extend free travel facilities in the Nagaland State Transport (NST) passenger buses to the persons with disabilities (PwDs) within the state.
In a notification on Wednesday, the state transport department said for identification of persons with benchmark disabilities (PwBDs) to avail free travel facilities, unique disability identify (UDID) card issued by the department of empowerment of persons with disabilities, ministry of social justice and empowerment of persons with disabilities, Government of India, or valid disability certificate issued by a competent authorised medical board would be prerequisite.
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The free travel pass will be issued by the NST general manager’s office in Dimapur on payment of Rs 50 which is renewable after two years against payment of Rs 20.
In case of any damage or loss, a new free travel pass will be issued on payment of Rs 50.
The applicants may submit their applications directly to the NST general manager’s office, or through the district NST office.
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Companion, if any, of the PwBDs will have to pay full fare against prior reservation on request to occupy a seat next to the PwBDs.
However, for a PwBD with 80% or more disabilities or multiple disabilities who require assistance, a free travel bus travel facility will be allowed to one associate.
The free travel facility for PwDs is permissible for to and from journeys, including break journeys, or the journey from the originating station to the terminating station will be considered as the completion of one stretch of the journey.
The free travel facility will be limited to four seats in a particular bus in open space behind the driver’s seat in the first and second row.
The seat will be reserved and marked accordingly.
For availing of the facility, a request in advance or at least one day ahead of the departure of the bus will be preferred subject to the availability of seats. This free travel facility will be non-transferable, and any imposter so detected will be liable to prosecution.
Any pass that is misused will be cancelled, the NST department added.