News

Volume 4 Issue 2 - January 15, 2006

Delhi Transport Minister approves pilot project for disabled-friendly bus terminal

D.N.I.S. News Network - In the continuing dream roll for disabled citizens in the National Capital, so far as announcement of disabled-friendly transport infrastructure is concerned, the Delhi Government has announced a pilot project for constructing an ultra modern and accessible bus terminal at Hauz Khas.

Delhi Transport Minister Haroon Yusuf approved the pilot project at a presentation recently by the Managing Director of Delhi Transport Corporation (D.T.C.), A. Majumdar, and immediately sanctioned the funds needed for the project.

The blueprint for the project that would suit the low-floor buses recently introduced has been prepared by Samarthya, Centre for Promotion of Barrier-Free Environment for Disabled People in association with Sabala ActionAid. The project has also seen involvement of Indian Institute of Technology Professors Dinesh Mohan and Geetam Tiwari, School of Planning and Architecture students Nitin and Sudipto, D.T.C. General Manager V.K. Bhatia and Manager (Civil) Ranga.

Among the disabled-friendly features that the Hauz Khas bus terminal would have is a sound system that would allow a blind person to hear a recorded voice beckoning people towards the location of the bus stop from as far as 30 feet. The path way will have guiding tiles implanted on the sidewalk for direction to blind commuters. It will also have ramps for easy access.

Further the buses will have speakers on board that would issue announcements stating the destination and route number of that particular bus. At present there are about 5,000 bus stands in Delhi of which only about 2,600 have bus shelters.