DCR introduces provisions for differently-abled

Unlike the lack of mention of provisions for differently abled people in the Development Plan 1991, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has introduced a slew of special infrastructure provisions, keeping the interests of this community in mind in the Development Control Regulations of DP 2034. Henceforth, both public spaces and private buildings will be made sensitive to the needs of the differently-abled community. Infrastructure provisions include the availability of differently-abled friendly toilets, washbasins, drinking water facilities, spacious staircases and lifts, walkways leading to lifts, ramps with access to staircases among other things.

While constructing of commercial buildings, the DCR mandates that two parking spaces near the entrance of the plot as well as close to the entrance of the building should be reserved for the differently-abled, as well as setting up kerb ramps for access to entrances, drop-off zones at driveways, single, continues, and unobstructed access paths for all amenities in a building, which is free of protrusions and slopes, and precise signage for all of the above at regular intervals.

Meanwhile, a separate set of measures have been identified for public spaces as well. In cinemas, theatres, stadiums and concert halls with fixed seating arrangements, at least two spaces will now be reserved for wheelchairs. Such places should also accommodate various mobility aids. Apart from this signage on streets, footpaths, foot-over bridges, and subways are mandatory.

The DCR classifies all persons with up to 40 per cent disabilities as differently-abled people. Sources from the DP department said, “We have tried our best to customise these provisions to best fit the needs of the city’s population, even though we have picked up ideas as per international standards.”