The Disability Rights Alliance (DRA) has launched a door-to-door campaign to keep footpaths barrier free following large-scale encroachment by commercial establishments.
On various stretches, access to newly-developed footpaths for persons with disability has been hindered because of encroachments.
According to a survey by DRA, a number of commercial establishments use footpaths, on stretches including K.B. Dasan Road, for parking.
“We spoke to the owners and have persuaded them to avoid parking vehicles there. Some listen to us. A few politically-influential persons seem unwilling to cooperate, however,” said Smitha Sadasivan, member of DRA, which has been working on the project with the Chennai Corporation and a group of NGOs.
“We have been conducting periodic access audits. The Chennai Corporation has done a good job, but illegal parking has disrupted the scheme,” she said. The civic body is developing well-designed footpaths along bus routes and other key stretches to facilitate easy access to persons with disability.
“We recommend a minimum footpath width of 1.2 metres. But many illegal parking lots have reduced the width,” said Shanker, an access consultant.
An access audit was carried out along Police Commissioner Road, Pantheon Road, Besant Nagar Second Avenue and K.B. Dasan Road.
The initiative is expected to support the civic body’s efforts to make footpaths along bus routes in the city disabled-friendly, and also improve non-motorised transport.
The civic body plans to make footpaths barrier-free so even those in wheelchairs can avail of pedestrian facilities.
Newly-developed roads include Gandhi Irwin Road, Conran Smith Road, K.B. Dasan Road, Halls Road, Besant Nagar 2nd Avenue, Tank Bund Road near Loyola College and Sterling Road. The door-to-door campaign will continue on Sunday.
