Disability Rights Group Audits Bus Stops On Kamarajar Salai For Accessibility

Nearly 10 ambulant persons with reduced mobility and disability rights advocates conducted accessibility audits at two bus stops on Kamarajar Salai, including a model bus stop near Vivekananda House, on Sunday. The audit was carried out under the 'Bus4all' initiative by the Disability Rights Alliance (DRA) to formulate recommendations for standardized, accessible bus stop designs across the city.

Participants found that non-standardized platform heights across the city present major obstacles when boarding electric low-floor buses. During the audit, a wheelchair user attempting to board an electric low-floor bus rolled back onto the bus stop platform because the ramp incline was too steep. Platform heights were found to vary between 150 mm and 300 mm at different locations, creating inconsistency for commuters with disabilities.

At the model bus stop near Vivekananda House, where the platform height measured 300 mm, Gnana Bharathi, founder of the Spinal Injured Persons Association, noted that alighting commuters immediately faced traffic because the stop lacked direct access to the adjacent footpath. He stressed that roads, footpaths, and bus stop platforms must be properly aligned at the same level so commuters can move safely without entering vehicular traffic.

Visual and mobility impairments presented additional challenges during the audit. DRA member Meenakshi Balasubramaniam stated that tactile tiles designed for visually impaired users were laid without enough space between them, leaving little room to maneuver crutches safely. She added that once inside the bus, commuters lacked secure places to store assistive devices and faced restricted legroom.

Bus driver behavior was also highlighted as a key issue during the exercise. Bharathi noted that many drivers stop far away from the platform, negating the benefits of low-floor buses. He suggested installing curved path indicators to guide drivers to stop close enough for persons with disabilities to board easily.

Pavithra Sriram, architect and co-founder of Design Co:Lab, stated that while guidelines and harmonized designs already exist, implementation continues to lag in public infrastructure. Following the audit, the Disability Rights Alliance plans to submit its recommendations to the Greater Chennai Corporation and the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority to push for standardized implementation.