Kilambakkam bus terminus inaccessible for people with disabilities, says report

CHENNAI:

Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA). the city’s foremost government body for planning and layout approval, as well as leading architectural firm C.R. Narayana Rao, have together created an almost ‘complete’ public transport terminal in Kilambakkam that violates the most basic accessibility requirements, according to Disability Rights Alliance.

 

Releasing Kilambakkam Bus Terminus Access Visit Observations report after the access audit of the bus terminus was conducted on September 15, DRA in a release states that ramps in Kilambakkam bus terminus not only fail compliance with Harmonised Guidelines 2021 - the Rights Of Persons With Disabilities Act, 2016 statuted standard, they also do not match the CMDA approved drawings either.

 

Vaishnavi Jayakumar, member, Disability Rights Alliance (DRA), told The New Indian Express that, "It is unfortunate that seven years after a similar access report with photo guidance for Chennai Metro Rail, DRA is highlighting same accessibility code violations for CMDA’s mega bus terminus project at Kilambakkam."

 

"While CMDA has set a good precedent in transparency by sharing some design drawings before the visit coordinated by Tamil Nadu’s disability department, it has remained silent since on quests for signage and wayfinding design report, specifications for lift, escalators, drinking water facility, linked chairs, bunk beds and battery operated car and drawings for prayer room, dormitories, bus fingers, bus bays,  and ticket booths," according to the statement from DRA.

This delay will only further postpone the inauguration of Kilambakkam bus terminus which cannot legally or morally take place till the possible retrofits are made and a fresh access audit approves the same for usage by all. In 2017, the cost of retrofitting seven brand new Chennai Metro Rail stations for basic accessibility compliance was Rs 90.3 lakh as per the status report filed at Madras High Court.

 

The status of DRA’s request for a similar exercise at Kuthambakkam Bus terminus, which is likely to be opened on December 2023. is unknown, the release stated. When TNIE asked CMDA member secretary Anshul Mishra on whether any preliminary audit was being done prior to the construction of the bus terminus, he said the bus terminus is under construction unaware of such audit required to be done.

One of the major concerns in the audit observation report is the bus depot design. The different types of buses (floor height, length, fuel type, deck, rear axle configuration and comfort) have not been factored in, leave alone diverse populations’ specific needs.

Similarly, bus terminals should have low floor buses for intra-city bus use and wheelchair lifts for intercity high floor bus use. This oversight is deplorable given the Madras High Court judgement which states bus stops should be scientifically designed to suit the requirements of the differently-abled.

The ramps not only fail compliance they do not match the CMDA approved drawings either. As per the approved drawing, the external straight ramps at the entry to the terminal building depict in-between landings. However these are not present in the executed ramps, the report states.

"We have provided as per the original drawings approved. After the audit, we will provide all the additional facilities as requested given that those are within the norms and guidelines." he said when highlighted about the concerns being raised by DRA.