Madras High Court: Take Steps To Ensure Upcoming Bus Stands Are Disabled Friendly

The Madras High Court in the case Vaishnavi Jayakumar v The Chennai Metropolitan Development observed and has directed the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority to ensure that the upcoming bus terminals in Koothambakkam, Venpakkam, Varadarajapuram and Mamallapuram are constructed by duly complying with the Harmonized Guidelines and Standards for Universal Accessibility in India, 2021.

The bench comprising of Chief Justice SV Gangapurwala and Justice Bharatha Chakravarthy in the case was hearing the petition moved by disability rights activist Vaishnavi Jayakumar wherein seeking directions to the CMDA to ensure that the newly constructed Kilambakkam Bus Terminus is compliant with the design and standards prescribed in the Harmonised Guidelines.

The court in the case observed that the joint inspection was conducted and an access audit report was also shared with the petitioners in which 17 deficiencies were pointed out and the authorities informed the court that work orders were issued for seven deficiencies and would be issued for the remaining deficiencies also.

It has also been informed by the authorities that the work contract for the remaining deficiencies will be issued within two months and the tender would contain all the details of the works to be carried out in accordance with the audit report and the guidelines.
Therefore, when the said court was informed that new bus stands were also being constructed, the court remarked that the same would also have to be constructed by following the guidelines.

It was also suggested by the court that the Access auditors could make periodical inspections during the construction of the bus stand and make suggestions whenever necessary.