Jamshedpur: Elderly and indisposed passengers may no longer have to walk on Tatanagar platforms one and two with the A1 railway station hoping to press into service two more battery-run cars, taking its total fleet size to three.

Until now, the station had a single four-seater vehicle, donated by philanthropic outfit Brahmananda Seva Sadan last year. It covered 25km on a single charge, helping passengers during rush hours. The two new cars are expected to ply in another two months.

"Three parties have evinced interest in donating battery-operated vehicles to Tatanagar. We require at least two more cars to help disabled and elderly passengers to commute from the entrance gate to the platforms. The service is be free," station director H.K. Balmuchu said.

According to him, the fleet will operate round the clock and the proposal is being finalised with the Chakradharpur railway division authorities. On why the other three platforms wouldn't be serviced, he said those were yet to be linked with ramps.

Balmuchu said the station would provide charging ports while the salary of drivers would be paid by the agency roped in to run the service.

"A single battery-run car is not enough to meet the needs of growing passenger footfall at Tatanagar. Many elderly people and patients travel to the south on board the Tata-Alleppey and Tata-Yeshwantpur trains for treatment. Such passengers require wheeled assistance," explained an official at the commercial wing of Tatanagar.

The Chotanagpur Passenger Association and Singhbhum Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) welcomed the move.

"We appreciate the railway initiative as it is an addition to passenger amenities. It will immensely help the sick, the elderly and the disabled," said a member of the association.

Vijay Anand Moonka, chairman of the railway committee of SCCI, said: "In December last year, we had also written to Chakradharpur railway division asking for more battery cars at Tatanagar."