Rights panel puts Chandigarh MC chief, UT Chief Engineer on notice

Taking a suo motu cognisance of a news report published in Chandigarh Tribune regarding parking lots not being disabled friendly, the Punjab State and Chandigarh (UT) Human Right Commission has issued notices to the MC Commissioner and the UT Chief Engineer. The officials have been asked to submit a report week before the next date of hearing, which is scheduled for October 15.

In the order, Justice Sant Parkash and Justice Gurbir Singh, chairperson and member of the commission, respectively, stated that the panel had perused the report, “City parking lots not disabled-friendly”. It indicated that the MC has 90 parking lots and physically challenged people have to face a lot of problems as there were no proper signboards and ramps. The parking policy framed by the Chandigarh Administration has provisions to ensure disabled friendly parking.

In the news report, it was highlighted that the signboards and the markings inside the parking lots have been erased over a period of time. During a meeting of the Road Safety Council on June 23, 2016, the then UT Adviser had directed the Chief Engineers of the UT Administration and the MC to ensure that designated parking spaces were earmarked for the handicapped persons. Ramps and other infrastructure should also be provided as per the Guidelines and Space Standards for Barrier-Free Built Environment for Disabled and Elderly Persons.

Harman Singh Sidhu, the founder of ArriveSAFE, an NGO working on road safety and sustainable transportation, welcomed the panel’s order.