Saidapet Court Bus Shelter Inaccessible to Disabled, Prompting GCC Inspection

An under-construction bus shelter near the Saidapet court in Chennai has drawn sharp criticism from persons with disabilities and activists after its platform was built nearly two feet high, rendering it inaccessible. The ₹15 lakh project, funded through Deputy Mayor M Magesh Kumar’s area development funds, features a platform that is almost 2.5 times the height preferred for level boarding, alongside a steep and narrow ramp.

Following complaints regarding accessibility for the elderly and disabled persons, Bus Route Roads (BRR) officials conducted an inspection of the site. The officials suggested several corrective measures, including widening the ramp, installing a handrail, and reconstructing the ramp at a 1:20 gradient. According to Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) guidelines, the ramp must be at least 1.2 metres wide, whereas the currently constructed ramp measures less than a metre.

Corporation officials from Zone 11 attributed the raised height of the shelter to a stormwater drain running directly underneath the structure. However, disability rights activists questioned why accessibility standards were overlooked during the initial planning phase and only addressed after construction had already commenced.

Sathish Kumar, a disability rights activist from the Disability Rights Alliance (DRA), raised concerns over whether commuters with disabilities would be able to use the facility independently. He pointed out that the steep incline makes level boarding impossible and questioned the rationale behind erecting a concrete structure over the platform, which obstructs pedestrian movement.

Addressing the concerns, the Deputy Mayor stated that the new shelter was being built in accordance with GCC norms. He added that concrete structures are preferred when utilizing MLA or councillor funds because the civic body favours permanent construction.

The area near the Saidapet court currently has five existing bus stops, but commuters report that buses rarely stop at designated shelters. Instead, vehicles frequently halt a few metres away near a tea shop, leaving commuters to wait in the sun. Furthermore, existing shelters in the vicinity face encroachment issues, with two-wheelers parked in front of two stops and notary officials occupying another. Corporation officials noted that six shelters are required at the location and mentioned that the operational issues would need to be addressed with the Metropolitan Transport Corporation.