Chandigarh parking lots not disabled-friendly

A lot needs to be done to make parking lots in the city disabled friendly. As per Harman Singh Sidhu, founder of Arrive SAFE, an NGO working on road safety and sustainable transportation, there are no signboards, slot markings and ramps for the disabled in parking lots. The signboards and markings have got erased with time.

The Municipal Corporation has over 90 parking lots in the city, but in the absence of proper signboards and ramps, the disabled have to face lot of problems. The Chandigarh Administration had notified a parking policy 10 years ago. It has provisions to ensure disabled friendly parking facilities. In line with the National Building Code of India, 2016, parking for differently abled will be provided in all parking spaces, the policy states.

A minimum of six accessible parking spaces in first 200 parking slots and one each for additional 100 parking spaces have to be demarcated for the disabled users. These parking spaces shall be provided free of charge and designed according to the Harmonised guidelines and space standards for barrier-free built environment for persons with disability and elderly persons, 2016. In case of violation and utilisation of earmarked spaces by other users, a fine must be levied in accordance with Section 177 of MV Act. The policy says such parking facilities shall be free of charge and will not be used by anyone other than identified persons. ID cards shall be distributed by social welfare authorities to such persons on demand. But the policy has not been implemented for the disabled persons.

Sidhu said in the Road Safety Council meeting on June 23, 2016, the then UT Adviser had directed the Chief Engineers of UT Administration and Municipal Corporation to ensure that designated parking spaces were earmarked for the disabled. Ramps and other infrastructure should also be provided as per the guidelines. Nearly a decade has passed but no action has been taken. Only “handicapped parking” signs were put up at some places. These serve no purpose as the signboards are neither accessible nor visible.

There is no “yellow box” marked on the ground so others don’t park their vehicles at spaces earmarked for the disables. If somehow a disabled person is able to park a car or scooter there, he/she cannot go across the guard railings. The ramps are so steep that even two able-bodied persons find it difficult to push a wheelchair.

Designated parking lots should be set up as per guidelines and an accessibility audit should be done to ensure that the people with disabilities are able to use them.

RK Garg, a social activist, said Chandigarh has a population of 10.54 lakh as per the 2011 Census. There are many disabled persons, who find it difficult to use the parking places. Meanwhile, sources in the MC said a tender worth over Rs 76 lakh to make the parking lots disabled friendly has been issued. The selected agency will provide and fix parking signboards, mark parking lots and build ramps to make parking lots disabled friendly.