In 2010, a simple incident at Mysuru Railway Station exposed a gap that millions with disabilities quietly navigate every day. A visually impaired commuter missed his train because he was misinformed about the platform. His frustration sparked a question that would go on to transform public infrastructure:
Why don’t we have Braille signages so people can independently confirm where they are?
That unanswered question became the foundation of Anuprayaas, a Bengaluru-based accessibility organisation founded by mechanical engineer Pancham Cajla.
A Station That Became a Blueprint
When Anuprayaas proposed Braille-guided navigation to the Mysuru Railway Division, the response was unexpectedly supportive. The Divisional Railway Manager encouraged the team to take it forward.
Anuprayaas spent months studying how visually impaired people navigate campuses, institutions, and corridors. They learnt early that accessibility must be simple, durable, and aligned with natural hand movements.
The result: India’s first visually impaired–friendly railway station, built using stainless-steel Braille signages strong enough to withstand daily footfalls of 2–5 lakh passengers.
India’s First Accessible Train
During the station’s inauguration, visually impaired commuters raised a second issue — identifying their seat numbers. Many found their reserved seats already occupied, with no tactile way to verify.
Using user feedback, Anuprayaas designed tactile seat-number plates placed near aisle seats — where hands naturally fall while walking.
Within a month, the Mysuru–Varanasi Express became India’s first visually impaired–friendly train.
Scaling to 200+ Projects Across India
Since then, Anuprayaas has executed over 200 accessibility interventions, including 150+ railway stations.
Its work now spans:
- AIIMS Delhi, Safdarjung Hospital, Islamia Hospital Kolkata
- IIT Delhi and multiple blind schools
- Qutub Minar and public spaces like malls in Indore
- Upcoming metro station projects
Each project undergoes a detailed design–testing–installation pipeline involving engineers, disability users, and institutional teams.
Design Built for India’s Realities
A key learning was the failure of common materials like acrylic, which flatten under pressure and distort Braille.
“If even one dot flattens, the meaning changes,” the team notes.
This led to the adoption of:
- high-thickness stainless steel
- deep tactile engraving
- strict Braille standards
- durability tests fit for public infrastructure
Impact: When Accessibility Becomes Habit
At Borivali station, commuters adapted to tactile railings so quickly that when they reached other stations without these features, they contacted Anuprayaas asking why consistency was missing.
This revealed that once accessibility exists, people expect it everywhere.
Tactile maps, designed for visually impaired users, are now used widely by sighted passengers as station blueprints — proving accessibility benefits all.
Changing Attitudes, Not Just Infrastructure
Anuprayaas’ disability etiquette sessions highlight recurring issues:
- pity-based reactions
- invasive guiding techniques
- outdated terminology
- lack of awareness on personal boundaries
Many visually impaired users report bruises from strangers gripping their arms too tightly.
Anuprayaas promotes people-first language, respectful guiding methods, and awareness of personal space — essential to building inclusive environments.
The Road Ahead
With a team of 12–14, Anuprayaas is now developing solutions for metros. Persons with disabilities remain central to every R&D stage, ensuring designs remain usable and simple.
India has 5,000 railway stations.
Anuprayaas’ long-term vision is to see all of them equipped with ramps, tactile maps, and Braille signages — enabling equal access to work, travel, and opportunity.
Accessibility, they believe, is not a luxury.
It is the gateway to independence, dignity, and participation in society — and Anuprayaas is ensuring those gateways finally open.