Bengaluru: Despite strict laws, disabled miss the bus

Benagluru: Though a law (Persons with Disabilities Act 1995) calls for making public transport accessible for the disabled, successive state governments and the BMTC have done little in this regard, even two decades after it was passed.

Bengaluru's bus system, the most affordable mode of public transport in city, leaves out a large section of its commuters who are disabled.

"Bus stands need auditory signals on the platforms and voice announcements, so it can guide, say a visually challenged person, to reach their desired platform. Whatever the height of a bus, there needs to be a ramp placed, for a person on a wheelchair to get inside," said S.K. Padmanabha, Assistant Commissioner, State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities.

The city’s biggest bus junction Kempegowda Bus stand (Majestic) has hundreds of buses streaming in and out every day and people are seen running across from one platform to the other, to get into the right BMTC bus.

Amid all this chaos, how would a disabled person navigate independently? With no auditory signals on platforms, they would not know the right direction or bus. If they manage to find the bus, how does someone on a wheelchair board the buses, which are at a height from the platform? These are questions that remain unanswered by the authorities.

“Another measure suggested in the Disabilities Act, is to have a zebra crossing where the person with a cane, can feel the white patches engraved and walk along. There must be wheelchairs ready in the bus stand to cater to disabled persons reaching there by an auto," Padmanabha said.

"Travelling can be very confusing for disabled people, when there is no easy access. The State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities has had meetings with the BMTC in the past. 2-3 years ago, we put forward these measures to aide commuting for the disabled, but not much has happened so far," he added.

When BMTC Managing Director Dr Ekroop Caur was contacted, she said, “We haven't had these facilities for quite some time now. It needs to be prioritized and we will do it. There is a proposal to have space for passengers on wheelchairs within the bus. We have a few low floor premium AC buses, but no ramps."

"There are no zebra crossings, but there are elevated crossings in bus stands.

The new buses we order will have a ramp fitted but this is not feasible for the Non AC buses, as the incline is too steep. We are discussing placing of braille route boards on the platforms," Caur added.

However, Padmanabha felt that having braille boards will make things difficult, as the commuter would have to touch every route board to find their way. Auditory signals would be much more practical, he added.

While the BMTC has no clear response on why no measures have been taken for all these years, it is distressing to know that this agenda is not even being tabled, for serious discussion and research.