Posted on

Delhi’s Railway Stations continue to defy the Disability Act – remains inaccessible to disabled

Dear Friends,

The Indian Railways has been continuously disregarding the access rights of persons with disabilities and the elderly and has not set its house in order even after nearly two decades of the passage of the Disabilities Act.

Svayam has been advocating that the platforms need to be connected by both- the dynamic measures such as lifts and elevators but also non-dynamic features such as ramps. For Eg. the platforms are interconnected by big ramps at Agra railway stations. The stations in the capital — even the New Delhi Railway Station does not have that interconnectivity. One has to travel through the passage used by luggage vans which goes across the railway tracks.

Svayam also raised the issue of non-implementation of basic design. For instance, the tactile blocks that guide the visually impaired run into walls, railings etc. Also, the descent to the platform from the escalator is marked by a step without a warning tactile block. And there is no accessibility for the hearing and visually impaired persons.

During the Railway Budget of 2013, Svayam has shared the issues in detail with the Railway ministry. However, the ministry has been sitting quite in complete defiance of the law of the land. See a related news in TOI dated 27 Feb 2013 titled Rail Budget 2013: Disabled say there are many hurdles in the way.

Here is the media coverage in TOI today.

Delhi’s railway stations test elderly, disabled

Suhas Munshi,TNN | May 14, 2014, 01.32 AM IST

NEW DELHI: For the city’s elderly and the infirm, train journeys begin with pain and humiliation-at the railway station. In the absence of ramps or lifts, those incapable of walking have to be carried up foot overbridges on way to the platform in the arms of their kin or wheeled through routes meant for transportation of goods. Over the years, say the elderly, this debasing experience hasn’t changed.

At the New Delhi railway station, for instance, 60-year-old Tara Devi, who suffers from joint pains, waited on her walker for half-hour in the hot son as her son went hunting for a wheelchair. Sunheri Devi, 73, had a similar agonizing experience, being carried in his arms by her son to the platform.

“My mother lost a leg recently. Besides, she is too old to walk up the stairs. So, I carried her to the platform,” said son Om Prakash. Asked if he knew about wheelchairs or golf carts provided by the station for free, Prakash shook his head. The response was similar in most spot interviews TOI conducted of persons with some sort of disability.

Article in Newspaper image format as it appeared in the Times City

Clearly, while railway authorities say they have made arrangements for wheelchairs and golf carts at some stations, most passengers haven’t heard about it yet. Those who have, find it impractical and use it only as a last resort.

Of the major railway stations in Delhi, only Anand Vihar has been designed with a functional ramp to take the wheelchair-bound across the platforms. At Hazrat Nizamuddin, Old Delhi or New Delhi stations, the disabled have to be ferried to the end of a platform where goods are ferried on hand carts, and stand in queue with cart-loaders waiting for passing trains to give way in order to change platforms.

“The platforms are totally unapproachable by senior citizens and it’s about time someone decided to do something about it. It’s really a shame for the national capital to have an unapproachable platform for boarding important trains,” said senior citizen Sudipta Maitra, IBM’s former manager of business operations, who also has a disability.

Dr Satendra Singh, an assistant professor of physiology at GTB hospital, himself afflicted with polio, says the only way to help is to install lifts and reserve escalators for the disabled.

“Railways goes on installing escalators at stations but for someone like me who uses calipers, escalators don’t work because people like me tend to lose balance, as I have in the past. Lifts, reserved for the disabled, as done in the Delhi Metro, would make life so much simpler for us. That’s what I hope gets done some time in the forseeable future,” said Singh.

Old Delhi station happens to have a pair of lifts leading to waiting halls. But both have been in a state of disrepair for the past three years.

“We have been trying to ensure that the journey becomes safe and comfortable for everyone. We have one golf cart and 20 wheelchairs at Old Delhi railway station, one golf cart and five wheelchairs at Nizamuddin station, four golf carts and 20 wheelchairs at New Delhi and four wheelchairs at Anand Vihar. Besides, we have other facilities such as separate queues for elderly,” said a Northern railway spokesperson.

Clearly, the railways has to start making these facilities more accessible and user-friendly.

Source: Times of India

Related You Tube Video of CNN IBN Report

Posted on

The Hindu covers Svayam’s audit report findings

The Hindu

Published: November 12, 2012 11:09 IST | Updated: November 12, 2012 11:15 IST

Bhikaji Cama Place a symbol of ‘utter disdain for public property’: Accessibility audit

Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar

Roads in the complex are overflowing with sewer water making walking next to impossible.

In some parts of the complex, the ramps have been blocked by parked cars and converted into garbage dumps.

can be seen blocking passages, ramps and almost all pathways.
A recently conducted walkability and accessibility audit of the District Centre Complex at Bhikaji Cama Place has revealed that within seven years of a major renovation at the place by Delhi Development Authority, this commercial complex has again returned to a state of neglect and filth.

The survey conducted by Svayam – National Centre for Inclusive Environments – has taken a close look at the infrastructure or the lack of it in the complex which had come up in 1980 on the basis of the Master Plan of Delhi 1960.

Spread over an area of 35 acres, it comprises commercial and government offices, small and mid-sized retailers, hotels and other allied functions. The complex has high to mid-rise building blocks developed around large plazas and courts.

As per the survey, today the complex has become a symbol of “utter disdain for public property and lack of maintenance” and is in shambles. Though it stands in the heart of South Delhi, the complex today exposes the “apathy of the administration”.

Pedestrians forced to walk on roads

“Pedestrian pathways on arterial roads do not provide safe uniform access from Ring Road; from Bhikaji bus shelter near GAIL Building, there is no kerb cut and pedestrian pathway is too high,” the survey notes adding that “due to kerb height the elderly are forced to walk on road endangering their lives.”

The condition of the pedestrian pathways is also not encouraging. They “have level differences and are unusually high with no kerb cuts” which makes it difficult to access them.

Apart from the entire area being not pedestrian friendly, the survey has also revealed that with buses stopping anywhere and Rural Transport Vehicles ferrying office goers also stopping where they feel like, the chaotic picture gets complete.

The area also provides a picture postcard for a parking mess. Here cars can be seen blocking passages, ramps and almost all pathways. “Arbitrary placement of signage and encroachment by the parking mafia renders the pedestrian pathways inaccessible to all,” the report said.

A one-foot pathway

It also notes with concern that commercial expediency has led to a situation where the pedestrian pathways have been reduced to a mere “300 mm” or “one foot” at certain points “which doesn’t even allow one person to pass thorough easily”.

“Often”, due to this, the survey said, the pedestrians “get discouraged and are forced to come on to the road coming in conflict with moving vehicles”.

Overflowing sewer water

The survey also found “roads overflowing with sewer water making walking next to impossible” as near a ramp close to Ansal Chamber I. It also noted that several ramps that were provided during the 2005 re-designing exercise have been rendered useless for various reasons.

These reasons range from there being no signs to indicate the access to the ramp; approach to the ramp being unpaved, dirty and or encroached by parked cars; to bollards being placed to block the entry of cars on the ramp actually blocking the ramp.

At many places, it was also revealed that the “ramps have become garbage dumping places due to blockage” (as near HP showroom on August Kranti Marg side). Worse still, in some parts of the complex the ramps have been blocked and converted into garbage dumps.

Entrance to accessible parking encroached

The barrier-free environment of the complex has also been compromised by the manner in which the accessible parking which was made at the ramped entrance from Ansal Chamber – I side has been encroached, the survey said.

Further, it noted that “there was no aisle space for the wheelchair users to disembark and walk/wheel through the parked vehicles to the ramp. The entry to the ramp is blocked by parked cars. One would otherwise get discouraged by the unhygienic passage leading to ramp.”

Even when it came to accessing the office complexes and buildings, the survey found that the approaches were in a horrendous shape. “The steps are damaged at several places due to lack of maintenance; have no handrail to assist persons with reduced mobility; and even the approach to these steps is found encroached by parked cars,” it said.

Toilet that was never used

Even with respect to the lone free public toilet in the complex which has an accessible unit, the survey found that “the steep ramp and small door makes it inaccessible, though it displays an accessibility sign”. Further, the study had also found this accessible toilet unit locked and on opening it found that it was never put to use for which it was intended.

Keywords: Bhikaji Cama Place, public property, maintenance issues, infrastructure facilities

Source: Printable version | Nov 30, 2012 12:24:52 PM | http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/bhikaji-cama-place-a-symbol-of-utter-disdain-for-public-property-accessibility-audit/article4089948.ece

Posted on

Walkability and Accessibility Audit – Bhikaiji Cama Place, Delhi

New Delhi

07th November 2012

Svayam’s Access Audit Team conducted a walkability and Accessibility audit of an important District Centre of New Delhi – Bhikaiji Cama Place and found the complex in a pathetic state of maintenance.

Brief background

Built in 1980, Bhikaiji Cama Place is one of New Delhi’s district centres following the 1960 Master Plan of the city. The 35-acres area includes commercial and government offices, small and mid-sized retailers, hotels and other allied functions.

However, in the year 2005, a major renovation was carried out by the DDA and key interventions were made in order to improve the deteriorating conditions.

This included developing Road markings and directional signage to guide car and pedestrian traffic. Entrances were redesigned to make the plaza more accessible from the surrounding streets and pedestrian areas were elevated to keep them away from road traffic. A new storm water drainage and provision of ducts for future services were also installed.

Additionally, stone topped tables, benches and kiosks for additional food stalls were created to accommodate vendors and customers. Two public toilets were built and a solid waste system was developed and added alongside waste bins and garbage dumps.

Reality Check on November 02, 2012
Few years down the line , utter disdain for public property and lack of maintenance and DDA’s apathy, the complex is in shambles again.

The succeeding photos are sufficient evidence of the pathetic state of affairs at a major district centre in South Delhi where prominent offices are located- thanks to lack of maintenance by the municipal authorities and apathy of the administration.

Click below to access the PDF copy of the report.

Posted on

Footpaths in Delhi are too high to be used

A giant step backwards

City’s Footpaths Too High To Be Used, Violate All Norms

Indrani Basu TNN

New Delhi:

Imagine having to raise your legs up to a feet or more to take a footpath. If the state public works department (PWD) has its way, walking on the pavement in Delhi may become quite a task, thanks to mindless construction by the public works department. And no, there is no way anyone can be penalized for the faulty construction.

In a gross violation of the street design guidelines, the PWD is constructing 19-inch high footpaths in Kirti Nagar. The norm is of six inches. When a TOI team visited the area, it found that the agency had built most of the footpaths along Satguru Ram Singh Marg at this height without placing any slanting kerb ramps for easy access. Also, wherever there were ramps, those were too steep. In some areas, as many as three steps had to be constructed to provide access to a footpath.
As per street design guidelines issued by DDA planning body UTTIPEC in 2010, height of a footpath cannot exceed six inches; the footpaths must have a ramp of the slope 1:12 and must have tactile paving both at the beginning and along the footpath.

When TOI spoke to engineers in charge of the construction on the stretch, they shifted the blame on the area municipal commission of Delhi (MCD). “These roads were earlier with MCD . The MCD had constructed high drains on this road, and the footpaths have to be built on top of that. As a result, the footpath is high,” said an engineer.
“However, we will also be relaying the road, which will add four inches to the current height of the road,” assured the engineer. However, UTTIPEC guidelines state that in case a road will be re-carpeted after a footpath is built, reduction in footpath height till 100 mm (four inches) is permitted, but under no circumstances should a footpath be higher than 150 mm (six inches).
TOI found that none of these footpaths have tactile paving (yellow footpath tiles that act as warning and guiding blocks for the visually impaired), and access ramps are either missing, too steep or replaced with steps that cannot be used by those on wheelchairs. “All UTTIPEC street design guidelines have to be followed for all new construction. Engineers are well aware of this as we have had numerous meetings on this under the chairmanship of L-G Tejendra Khanna,” said UTTIPEC director Ashok Bhattacharjee.

However, a senior official said, “Forget UTTIPEC guidelines, even basic IRC guidelines are not being followed. The footpath being constructed in Kirti Nagar is just one of the glaring examples of public road structures that serve no actual purpose and have resulted in wastage of large amount of public money.”

While UTTIPEC has brought this matter to the notice of the L-G in a written complaint, there is currently no penalization provision in place to punish the road owning agencies.

Source: Times of India

Posted on

Students protest against inaccessible Delhi University Campus

Dear Colleagues,

Delhi University is sitting over several access audit reports conducted by independent agencies for which the University has paid a fee while the students with disabilities continue to suffer! One of such reports was shared by Svayam with the Delhi University to improve upon the signage and pedestrian access in the North Campus of Delhi University. However, there seems no action on the report till date and it is over two years. The situation is no better in even the South Campus of Delhi University.

The main roads connecting and passing through the Campus are not within the control of Delhi University and we have learnt that due to lack of coordination among multiple agencies manning the roads, the accessibility project has suffered badly. During Commonwealth Games, road were laid with spaces for motor and non-motorised transport, however it did not provide proper access to pedestrians. There are wrongly placed tactile pavers and abrupt level changes. On top of it, the access points always remain choked with the parked vehicles in front of gates. The pedestrian crossings are a nightmare and given the traffic sense on the roads, the disabled users are always prone to accidents. However, there is no initiative from any quarter to streamline the issue.

Recently a student with disability met with a serious accident. Students have thus decided to raise their voice which is very right and we strongly support this.

Here is the news items from Deccan Herald:

DU students bat for disabled-friendly campus

Apr 4, 2012
NEW DELHI: Students with disabilities will hold a protest on Wednesday demanding a more accessible campus from Delhi University authorities.

A month back they had submitted an application to university authorities regarding safety on roads, said a member of DU cross disabilities association (DUCDA). “A week ago another reminder was sent but to no effect,” added the member.

The members also carried out a signature campaign where around 700 students showed their solidarity.

“Student with disability met with a major accident recently in north campus. We are demanding safety on the roads. Although there are tactile paths in north campus for students who are blind, most of them are badly planned,” said Kapil Kumar, a blind postgraduate sociology student from Delhi School of Economics.

“Half the time while walking on these paths we bump into poles and trees. Incidents of blind students falling into pits have also come to light,” he added.

The students complain that they are being ignored.

“Though there is an equal opportunity cell (EOC) in the university to guide students with disabilities, it is always over burdened. Everywhere we go, we are directed to EOC which has limited resources and capacity. The proctor is handling EOC, but it should have an independent incharge to address our problems more effectively. Our issues have always been sidelined,” he said.

The students are also demanding to make accessible hostels and toilets.

“Very few colleges, not even the prominent ones, have toilets specially constructed for students with disabilities. Khalsa College may have one as one of the teaching faculty is disabled,” said Shakti Kumar Agarwal adding in hostels like Gwyer Hall, it is impossible to move in a wheelchair.

“Its entrance has steps. There is a boys’ hostel for disabled students that too is under Delhi government. There are no hostels for disabled women students,” said Agarwal.

The students are demanding a separate elected body on the lines of Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) to better represent them.

“There is a stray dog problem in every hostel. Once a blind girl fell into a pit where a dog was lying and got bitten. The students with disabilities are terrorised to walk on the footpaths, so they walk on the sides of the roads. That’s equally dangerous,” added Agarwal.

While DU has around 1,500 students with disabilities, many of them blind.