A 24-hour passenger assistance desk for persons with disabilities and senior citizens will be launched at Coimbatore Junction on December 3 under a corporate social responsibility initiative of the Viswanathan Sodalamuthu Foundation and Swarga Foundation.Named VAZHI, the facility will provide wheelchair assistance to passengers moving between platforms and trains, and help them board and alight using portable ramps in accordance with railway procedures. Passengers will be able to book assistance in advance by telephone and WhatsApp.The help desk will also coordinate wheelchair-accessible taxi services for passengers travelling to and from the station.
The service will be operated in coordination with Southern Railway.The project has received approval from the Ministry of Railways and is being launched in memory of late K.S. Viswanathan.
The Viswanathan Sodalamuthu Foundation will provide the accessibility kiosks and monitor the project along with Swarga Foundation.Suresh Kumar Viswanathan, founder of the Viswanathan Sodalamuthu Foundation, and Swarnalatha J., founder and managing trustee of Swarga Foundation, said the initiative was aimed at making railway travel more accessible for persons with disabilities and senior citizens. Published - November 02, 2026 06:56 pm IST