Mangaluru : Orthopaedically handicapped, paraplegic persons/ patients and those with mental disabilities can travel using rail travel concessions without escorts from June 15 onwards.

Until now, if they were found travelling alone without an escort, were treated as travelling without ticket and were being charged with penalty. A railway board circular has said that the board would implement a direction of the Madras High Court, which had that the Railways should not deny concession tickets to such persons when there is no escort.