Bollards, which have become synonymous with the ambitious TenderSURE projects being executed around the city, have also put the wide footpaths out of the reach of those relying on wheelchairs to commute.
In a letter sent to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) recently, the Karnataka State Commission for Disabilities (KSCD) has said the footpaths are proving to be unfriendly for the physically challenged.
Bollards have been erected at regular intervals to prevent motorists from using footpaths. But, the gap between bollards is not enough for persons on wheelchairs to go through. “It is a good idea to stop motorists but why punish the disabled,” asks Indresh R., undersecretary, office of the KSCD.
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This is not the first time that the disabled have objected to the design of the paths. Earlier in August, the access audit conducted by Forum for Urban Commons and Governance showed that the footpath on St Mark’s Road lacks parking spaces for the disabled and has deep ridges that pose a danger to wheelchair users while uneven ramps made commute difficult.
While BBMP is yet to receive the letter, Commissioner G. Kumar Naik said the concerns had been raised before and action was taken.
“One set of bollards — the ones that are closest to buildings — are spaced a little wider than the others to allow for wheelchairs to pass.
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“These are model footpaths and we have taken all possible considerations in the design,” he explained.