Universal Accessibility
The Journey Toward Accessible Cities in India: A Case of Kochi

Universal Accessibility The Journey Toward Accessible Cities in India: A Case of Kochi

Disability is a fundamental aspect of human existence characterized by a diverse range of health conditions and levels of severity. Despite growing awareness and advocacy, Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) in India face challenges across various aspects of life. Limited access to formal support systems often leads to greater reliance on caregivers, reinforcing the perception of dependency. This, in turn, can impact overall well-being, including mental and physical health. Thus arises the need for ‘Universal accessibility’, the design of built environment to be usable by all people to the greatest extent possible. It creates a human-centric, safe, and inclusive environment, perhaps the surest ways to include challenges of age, ability, and gender in an urban context and enabling them with independent movement. This forms a critical component of creating inclusive urban development.

With the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities coming into force, a rights-based approach to create a preventive and protective environment for the weaker section of the society has been shaping the societal reform. The policy orientation of the government has evolved in alignment with the needs of persons with disabilities. There has been a shift from the Biomedical Model and Social Model, which relied on charity and social perceptions, respectively, to the Rights-Based Model, which represents a significant evolution in understanding health, disability, and social inclusion (Working Group on Social Security and Welfare, 2022). Enactment of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016 in India, has emphasised on creating mandates by the central government to frame rules and laying down the standards of accessibility for physical environment, transportation system, information and communication system and other services for citizens in urban and rural areas. Rule 40 of the act deals with accessibility standards for public buildings, transportation, and information and communication technology. In particular, Rule 41 advocates for suitable measures to ensure accessibility the transport modes and the necessary infrastructure required to access them. However, while a lot of progress has been made, such as the introduction of low-floor buses in select cities like Delhi, the broader implementation of these standards remains inconsistent, especially across different states.

Situation Overview

As per 2011 Census, India is home to nearly 26.8 million people with disability, which forms nearly 2% of the country’s total population. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that approximately 1.3 billion people worldwide experience significant disability, which represents 16% of the world’s population, nearly 1 in 6 of us (WHO, 2023). While a lot has been done for their upliftment, creating an inclusive society is of utmost importance to ensure social inclusion. Efficient transport systems provide economic and social opportunities and reap benefits that result in positive multiplier effects.

‘Employment is not possible without Education. Employment and education are not possible without Accessibility. Employment, education, and accessibility need to be supported  by appropriate legislation and policy,  and it is imperative to create awareness to achieve any of the above’ - National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP)

Mobility plays an important role in education and employment and therefore is important in ensuring equality for persons with disabilities. To accommodate the needs of multiple disabilities, multiple tweaks in the infrastructure are required. Transport accessibility can enable economic development in the country, and so they can open the gates of improving the economic condition of people willing to earn and socialise despite their physical limitations. With categories of disabilities being increased from 7 to 21 as per the RPwD Act,2016 emphasis has been to understand the collective need of the group. For instance, a person with disability finds inaccessible and unaffordable transportation 15 times more difficult than those without disabilities (WHO, 2023).

Multiple Ministries are working to provide adequate and inclusive transport infrastructure in the country. Several national schemes have been launched to provide for their needs. Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan was launched to bring accessibility to the forefront of national development and create an environment where persons with disabilities can access information or transportation services at their convenience. The 74th Constitutional Amendment Act devolves various duties like urban planning, construction, and upkeep of roads, public facilities like parks and gardens and amenities like street lights, bus stops and safeguards the interests of weaker sections of society, including persons with disability, under the purview of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).

Key Judicial Decisions on Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities

The Supreme Court of India issued a judgment mandating strict accessibility standards for persons with disabilities (PwDs) in November 2024. The ruling, delivered by a bench led by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, emphasized the inadequacy of the current framework under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act, which relies heavily on non-binding guidelines rather than enforceable standards. The Court ruled that accessibility standards should be compulsory and non-negotiable, moving beyond the advisory nature of the existing rules. The judgement has emphasised creating an enforcement mechanism for government accountability.

The Kerala High Court directed the city authorities to make footpaths and roads more accessible for differently-abled individuals. The court emphasized the need for inclusive urban infrastructure, ensuring that public spaces are designed to accommodate people with disabilities. The ruling aims to enhance mobility and independence for people with disabilities in urban areas.

Existing Codes in Place

The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 under Section 40, empowers the Government to lay down the standards of accessibility for the physical environment, transportation, information and communications, including appropriate technologies and systems, and other facilities and services provided to the public in urban and rural areas. Sections 41 & 42 of the Act. provide for accessibility in transport and information and communication technology respectively. Section 43 provides for measures to promote the development, production and distribution of universally designed consumer products and accessories for general use for persons with disabilities. Section 44 prescribes the mandatory observance of accessibility norms in buildings. Section 45 lays down a time limit for making existing infrastructure and premises Accessible & Section 46 lays down a time limit for accessibility by service providers.

A list of codes in place for ensuring accessible infrastructure are as follows:

Article content

 

Budgetary Provisions for Inclusive Infrastructure

Several ministries and schemes at the national level contribute to the creation of inclusive infrastructure for Persons with Disabilities (PwD). In the 2025-26 national budget, 36% of funds allocated for urban development is earmarked for projects on transport, including Mass Rapid Transit Systems (MRTS) like metro rails. Various ministries are funding the urban infrastructure development, among these is the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), through initiatives like the Urban Rejuvenation Mission (AMRUT 2.0), City Investment to Innovate, Integrate and Sustain 2.0 (CITIIS 2.0), and the PM E-Bus Seva Scheme. These missions involve substantial budgetary allocations aimed at urban development and infrastructure improvement, with the potential to enhance accessibility, given that the need for PwDs is kept in consideration.

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MSJE) also plays a crucial role through schemes such as Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/Fitting of Aids and Appliances, the Deendayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme, Support of National Trust, the Scheme for Implementation of Rights for Persons with Disability Act (SIPDA), Scholarship for Students with Disabilities, and the Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS).

However, when examining the overall budgetary allocation for the disability sector in India, the figures reveal a disparity. The allocation for disability-related concerns is approximately 0.025% of the total budget for FY 2024-25.  The allocation under the MSJE is about 8.6% of its budget towards SIPDA (the scheme for implementation of RPwD Act, 2016).

Scheme for Implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (SIPDA)

SIPDA is a key scheme for promoting the rights of PwD. The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) serves as the nodal agency for disability matters, coordinating various activities related to the implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.  

A component of the SIPDA Scheme, is the ‘Creation of Barrier Free Environment’, which provides financial assistance to State/UT Governments, including autonomous organizations/ National Institutions/ Universities run by central/state governments for making existing Government buildings and public transport system accessible. The main objective of the Scheme is to assist various implementing agencies to take steps with a multi sectoral collaborative approach for effective implementation of various provisions of the RPwD Act.

The "Accessible India Campaign” (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan) is a nationwide flagship initiative designed by SIPDA to achieve universal accessibility, enable PwDs to live independently and participate fully in all walks of life in an inclusive society.

Despite its importance, SIPDA has faced challenges, particularly in fund utilization. Delays in receiving project proposals and incomplete utilization certificates have led to underutilization of allocated budgets, especially under the Accessible India Campaign. To improve SIPDA's effectiveness, the Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment has made several recommendations. These include incentivizing States/UTs with performance-linked grants, providing targeted support to underperforming regions, integrating universal accessibility principles into education curriculums, and establishing a National Center for Accessibility to serve as a hub for research, training, and policy advocacy. The committee also emphasized the need for strengthened monitoring and accountability mechanisms, leveraging AI and digital tools like the Sugamya Bharat App for real-time tracking and optimized training outcomes. It has also been recommended that the DEPwD improve coordination with States/UTs to ensure timely submission of proposals and optimal fund utilization, supported by a real-time tracking mechanism for project milestones.

Scheme Achievements:

Accessible India Campaign

The government has launched a nationwide flagship campaign, the Accessible India Campaign, which focuses on enhancing the accessibility of the Built-up Environment, Transportation System and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) ecosystem to make the life of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) more convenient. Under the campaign, the Ministry provided grants in aid to State/UT governments for selected identified government buildings for retrofitting.

Key achievements of the campaign are as follows:

Accessible Infrastructure

  • Accessibility audits of 1,671 government buildings were conducted with the target of auditing 25-50 buildings in 50 cities.
  • A fund of ₹562 crore was released for retrofitting 1,314 buildings.

  • Accessibility features have been incorporated into 1,748 government buildings, including 648 buildings under State/UT governments and 1,100 Central Government buildings retrofitted by the CPWD.

Transportation

  • All 35 international airports and 55 out of 69 domestic airports now feature ramps, accessible toilets, help desks, and lifts with Braille and auditory systems.
  • Aerobridges have been provided at all international/customs airports.
  • 709 railway stations have been made fully accessible, while 4,068 stations are partially accessible.
  • Out of 1,45,747 buses, 8,695 (5.96%) are fully accessible, and 42,348 (29.05%) are partially accessible.
  • Across 24 States/UTs, 3,120 out of 3,533 bus stations have been equipped with accessibility features.

 Press Information Bureau (PIB, 2024)

Accessible India Campaign has been merged with the Creation of Barrier Free Environment under SIPDA, as it reached its key goals in March 2024.

Kochi:

Urban Accessibility Profile

Kochi has a population of 6.67 lakh, with 41,432 PwD residing in the Kochi Urban Agglomeration as per the 2011 census. The city has a total road network of 1,762.25 km, but only 15% of the existing roads have footpaths. This limited footpath availability poses a significant challenge for pedestrian movement, especially for PwD. Kochi also ranks 10th among million-plus cities in India with the highest number of accidents with a high proportion of pedestrian fatalities.  

The Kerala State Government is actively involved in improving accessibility through initiatives like the Barrier-Free Kerala Project. These efforts align with the 14th Five-Year Plan and the report of the Working Group on “Social Security and Welfare”. The state's approach includes framing effective policy instruments, ensuring legal rights, and promoting social inclusion through a bottom-up planning approach. Kochi presents a mixed picture in terms of universal accessibility. The Kochi Municipal Corporation has allocated funds for road and footpath infrastructure, including maintenance, repairs, and capital infrastructure development. However, challenges remain. The Public Works Department in Kerala has prioritized the construction of road works with a special emphasis on the rights of PwD, incorporating features like footpaths, kerb ramps, handrails, pedestrian crossings, and signboards.

SUMACA- GIZ India project is supporting Kochi Municipal Corporation in mapping the city’s pedestrian infrastructure. A priority network has been identified which constitutes 30% of the city roads. As per the study, only 15% of the roads have footpath facilities. Discontinuity, obstructions, and encroachments on sidewalks pose difficulties for users. Junctions often lack continuous, at-grade sidewalks and ramps. Public spaces like parks and bus stops also present challenges, including ramp deficiencies at park entrances and a lack of tactile demarcation at bus stops. This assessment can help channel the fundings at the desired place.

Actions by the Kerala State Government

Under the Barrier-Free Kerala Project, the Public Works Department has sanctioned 63,07,000/- to make the roads around the collectorate disabled friendly in Ernakulam. In the FY 2019-20, 1,95,60,000/- has been sanctioned to the road division of the Public Works Department for making the footpath barrier-free in Palakkad Civil Station. The Public Works Department has given priority in the construction of road works as special emphasis with the rights of Persons with Disabilities. Footpaths, Kerb ramps, handrails, Pedestrian crossings, Sign Board are provided in the roads for the welfare of specially abled persons (Office of CCPwD, Annual Report (2021-22)).

Assessment of Buildings and Public Amenities in Kochi

GIZ in collaboration with the ‘Yes to Access’ mobile application, conducted an assessment of several buildings and public amenities in Kochi. Data reveals varying levels of accessibility across the amenities. Facilities such as the JLN Metro Station, the KMC Building, Lulu Mall, Town Hall, Revenue Tower, and Marine Drive were evaluated based on parameters like parking, approach, entrance, internal routes, and washrooms.

Article content

*Assessment based on primary survey conducted using ‘Yes to Access’ mobile application

While some facilities have designated parking spaces and accessible entrances, challenges persist in areas such as pathway width, tactile paths, corridor width, and the availability of support bars and accessible washrooms. compliance with the national codes can help create accessibility for all in the built environment.

Way Forward: Enhancing Universal Accessibility

The RPwD Act, 2016, treats disability as an issue of civil rights rather than a health or welfare issue. It recognizes that the primary issue faced by persons with disabilities is their exclusion from the mainstream activities of the society and hence emphasizes full participation and equal opportunities. Implementation of the provisions of the RPwD Act is being undertaken with a multisectoral collaborative approach, and all the related Ministries / Departments of the Central Government, the State Governments and other appropriate authorities take steps toward effective implementation of various provisions of the Act. A national-level scoring for Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) for measuring universal accessibility in urban transportation, similar to the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, can help incentivize and monitor progress in accessibility.

While Kochi has made strides in integrating accessibility into its urban development plans, challenges remain in ensuring effective implementation and comprehensive coverage. Addressing the challenges in Kochi and improving universal accessibility requires a multi-faceted approach. A multi-ministerial approach is essential to ensure optimal utilization of funds and effective implementation of accessibility initiatives. By strengthening coordination between various stakeholders, improving fund utilization, prioritizing user feedback, and adhering to established guidelines, Kochi can make significant progress in becoming a truly inclusive city.

Ganesh Joshi

Rehabilitation Medicine

2d

Shirish Mahendru SDG 2030 targets are not far. India took steps towards inclusive society in 2016 with the RPWD Act implemented 8 years back. There is a clause on time limit also. Accordingly accessible health care was offered through NMC Regulations dated 29.10.2020. Unfortunately, the 700+ Medical Colleges have refused to comply with it targeting the health care of PwD. It can be aligned only if PwD raise the voice to teach PMR in MBBS immediately. Else the day is not far when the days of Disability Rights will revert to a Century old days of Charity😞

Like
Reply
Madhu Singh

Sr. Urban Transport Expert

3w

Thank you Shirish, for such an insightful and data driven overview! One point to note: despite 2% of India's population being persons with disabilities, why do we see so few of them in public spaces or on roads? Perhaps because they do not feel safe and supported enough to leave home. Often interventions such as transit stops/auto stands, accessible walkways come in areas with visible numbers of persons with disabilities,overlooking the basic right of every individual to be able to leave home to perform daily activities with dignity and confidence. Ensuring accessibility across daily life as a standard rather than a response to demand truly will reflect the principle that no one is left behind. While it is encouraging to see growing numbers of infrastructure audits and launch and use of accessibility related apps, it is crucial that agencies especially public agencies must have a dedicated wing to track, monitor, and respond to these efforts.

Issue regarding the mobility of physically challanged ppl  is really huge, and it should be addressed both by senstivity of ppl in general and by an act by govt.

"We truly believe this is an incredible Post, and we’d love to share it with our community! 💙 At Speshally, we are a social enterprise committed to creating a sustainable and inclusive ecosystem for individuals with Disabilities worldwide. Would it be okay for us to repost this and help amplify its impact? Let us know! ✨♿ #EmpoweringAbilities #InclusiveImpact"

Shirish Mahendru

Technical Advisor - Sustainable Mobility - Clean fuels- SUM-ACA (GIZ India)

1mo

Thankyou for your inputs Pramod.

Like
Reply

To view or add a comment, sign in

More articles by Shirish Mahendru

Insights from the community

Others also viewed

Explore topics