Infrastructure boom fails disability test in Mumbai

Mumbai is slated to gain impressive infrastructure in the coming year Yet a test drive by this newspaper revealed a harsh reality for those with disabilities the ldquoMaximum Cityrdquo often offers minimum accessAs the world marked the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3 a walk through the city reveals how far it is from being truly inclusive From broken footpaths to missing ramps inaccessible public transport to poorly designed public buildings everyday mobility remains a challenge for people with physical visual and auditory impairmentsRamesh Sartape boards one of the few BEST buses that have a ramp for wheelchair users in Goregaon West PICSATEJ SHINDEFootpaths where they exist are uneven encroached upon or abruptly end forcing wheelchair users and the visually impaired onto dangerous roads Tactile paving is either absent or laid incorrectly leading to confusion rather than guidance for the visually challengedPublic transport the cityrsquos lifeline is another major hurdle While BEST buses have introduced a limited number of lowfloor buses they remain too few to meet demand Suburban railway stations mdash used by millions daily mdash are largely inaccessible with steep staircases nonfunctional lifts and foot overbridges that are impossible to navigate for those with mobility issues Even newly redeveloped stations do not have inclusive accessJayashree Jadhav wheelchairbound Byculla resident who faces obstacles navigating streets Shopkeepers have helped her by breaking the footpath to make it more accessible PICRITIKA GONDHALEKARActivists point out that the problem is not a lack of laws but poor implementation The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act mandates barrierfree access in public spaces yet compliance remains weak ldquoInfrastructure projects worth thousands of crores are announced but accessibility is treated as an afterthoughtrdquo said Ramdas Khot a member of the Association for Disabled Persons MumbaiThe irony is stark Mumbai is racing ahead with mega projects like metro corridors coastal roads and smart city initiatives but basic universal access is still missing For persons with disabilities the cityrsquos growth has not translated into dignity independence or safetyTale of two strugglersJayashree Jadhav a wheelchairbound Byculla resident who runs a mobile accessories shop near Mahalaxmi railway station said ldquoIrsquove been using a wheelchair for 40 years Yet over the years facilities have only improved by one per cent for people like us Even the footpath that I use daily had to be broken by kindhearted shopkeepers so I could use it Is it so difficult for the authorities to make things accessible for us Will we continue to remain an afterthoughtrdquoWheelchair user Ramesh Sartape takes the support of a staircase railing while entering the Goregaon East Metro station as his wife Vidya assists him PICSATEJ SHINDERamesh Sartape a differently abled person who commutes from Goregaon to Andheri daily said ldquoRelatively accessible options such as the Metro are not affordable for those who earn just enough to survive while affordable options like rail are inaccessible due to infrastructure hurdles Neither BMC nor Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority officials responded to middayrsquos calls by press timeTest DriveRAILWAYgtgt No ramp at all entryexit pointsgtgt Ramps are available at spots where they cannot be used or located easilygtgt Lifts are located at just one spot and are 80 per cent of the time nonfunctionalgtgt If one overcomes all these hurdles wheelchairbound persons cannot enter trains due to the nonavailability of ramps and brief halt timesDisabled suburban railway travellers receive a 50 per cent concession on monthly and quarterly season ticketsBESTgtgt Not all buses have rampsgtgt The drivers and conductors of those that do arenrsquot trained to operate the rampsgtgt Since the ramps are seldom used their handles are sometimes jammed rendering them unusablegtgt There is no dedicated space inside buses for wheelchairsThe disabled are entitled to free ride in all BEST busesMETROgtgt Lifts are located along footpaths restricting accessgtgt Spots where ramps exist are blocked by boulders and rods to keep twowheelers at baygtgt The wheelchairdedicated area on Metro trains is only at one endgtgt Ablebodied travellers use scan counters for the disabled causing the latter to wait unnecessarilyDisabled travellers using the Aqua Line can avail of a 25 per cent concession