State Commission for Persons with Disabilities has directed the department of Transport to renovate the present ISBT at Kohima as well as all other bus terminals in the State by providing basic facilities for persons with disabilities.
SCPD commissioner Diethono Nakhro also set a three-month time for the department to comply with its directive and thereafter submit an Action Taken Report on or before August 25, 2023. She ruled that department must initiate immediate action to remedy the present scenario faced by persons with disabilities, for which the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 was enacted.
Citing the Harmonised Guidelines and Standards for Universal Accessibility in India, 2021, she directed construction of permanent ramps and railings, along with providing lifts where necessary, setting up help-desks manned by qualified personnel during all workings days and hours, setting up accessible ticket counters taking into account the height, reach and sight-line requirements to accommodate physical differences between all users, ensuring separate accessible toilet facilities with sufficient space to accommodate assistive devices, non-slip flooring with basic amenities and fixtures such as grab bars, hand rails, safety frames, etc. She ordered that the toilets should also be well maintained with sufficient manpower for housekeeping.
The order also asked the department to ensure that the overall premises, including the boarding areas, were paved and made accessible and friendly for persons with disabilities, provide tactile guiding paths from the parking bays to the terminal building and various sections inside the terminal building, ensure that there was sufficient easy-to-read-and-understand signages and reserved parking space/areas for persons with disabilities, provide free travel facilities to all bona fide persons with disabilities in all NST buses and publicise how and where to avail the pass.
The commissioner further called for constructing proper resting areas and lounges within the terminals and sitting areas surrounding the premises, coming up with a solution whether to re-modify the existing “modified buses” or purchase new accessible buses that were already equipped with ramps/hydraulic lifts/spaces for placement of wheelchairs, etc. She ordered ensuring that all new bus terminals under construction were also in compliance with basic accessibility standards as per the Harmonised Guidelines.
“Once the Harmonised Guidelines and the above mentioned directions are strictly adhered to and made visible, it would naturally bring about a change in the mindset and approach of the people towards persons with disabilities and at the same time give a sense of independence and dignity to persons with disabilities who will be utilising these facilities. This itself will help to further empower persons with disabilities and foster inclusion and equality in our society,” the order stated.
