BMC officials to seek IIT-B help if manholes fall on paths for the blind

Mumbai: BMC officials have been told to seek expert opinion from IIT-B wherever a manhole cover falls within the alignment of tactile paving, which is meant to assist the blind, on a footpath beside concretised roads.

They have been directed to ensure that these footpaths are made accessible to all, including those with disabilities.Noting that manhole covers at specific intervals on footpaths create undulations and are in conflict with BMC’s accessibility policy, additional municipal commissioner Abhijit Bangar instructed civic officials to see to it that the footpaths’ surface is even and unobstructed and tactile paving with vertical/horizontal lines is undertaken.

Tactile paving consists of 300m-wide strips in the middle of a footpath.While inspecting roads in the eastern suburbs and a Powai colony, Bangar, who is also additional commissioner (projects), said footpaths are being built along concretised roads as per the norms of Indian Roads Congress, a national premier body for road and highway standards.Bangar told TOI, “The tactile paving has to be continuous in terms of accessibility for the visually impaired, and if it is discontinued near a drain chamber cover, then it does not serve its purpose and that is a valid concern. Therefore, I have instructed our officials to consult IIT-B and work out a solution, which can then be implemented across the city.”Rishi Aggarwal, founder of pedestrian advocacy group Walking Project, said footpaths right now are not even accessible to the able-bodied. “There needs to be complete reimagination with regards to roads andpedestrian infrastructurein the city.

They are right now hostile to pedestrians. Besides, BMC is installing grilles on footpaths. For comfortable walking, the footpaths should be 4-5m wide on arterial roads, but where are the footpaths in the first place?” Asserting that BMC’s past actions had robbed citizens of footpaths, Aggarwal said, “You have to distinguish between intention and outcome. The grilles being installed are, in reality, blocking access to footpaths.

Pedestrians should be able to access the footpaths at any point, and the installation of grilles can be done in a nuanced manner at traffic junctions. BMC should ensure that footpaths are also accessible to women, children and the elderly.”A BMC official said grilles are being placed as many people tend to park on pavements and the spaces are also being taken over by hawkers.Bangar also directed officials to ensure that there is no obstruction in storm water drains before the concretised roads are opened to traffic.