KTC puts measures in place for disabled

Panaji: Kadamba Transport Corporation Ltd (KTCL) has fitted concrete ramps for persons with disabilities (PwD), disabled-friendly toilets and have also kept wheelchairs at control rooms while also reserving parking for persons with disabilities.
KTC has informed the state human rights commission that two wheelchairs at Panaji bus stand, one each at Mapusa, Pernem, Assonora, Sanquelim, Honda, Valpoi, Marcela, Margao, Cuncolim, Canacona, Curchorem, Shiroda, Ponda bus stands have been kept at each of the control rooms for use by PwD.
The commission had taken suo motu notice of a news report highlighting hardships faced by PwD at bus terminals and bus stops which lacked basic facilities such as wheelchair-enabled toilets, low-height ticketing desks, Braille signages, aisles without protruding objects where private buses don’t have ramps.
The commission had issued notices to the chief secretary, managing director KTC calling for compliance reports and KTC submitted a detailed report with all the steps taken to make bus stands and toilets disabled-friendly.
The commission’s investigation cell was then directed to visit the bus stands and confirm the measures taken. Head of the investigation cell PSI Sanit Kavlekar stated that concrete ramps are available, some of which are newly constructed, at bus stands located at Panaji, Mapusa, Pernem, Margao, Cuncolim, Curchorem, Canacona, Valpoi, Marcela, Ponda, Bicholim, Sankhali, Assonora, Honda and Vasco. He also stated that disabled-friendly toilets also exist at some bus stands along with functioning public announcement systems and audio-visual systems.
Parking stickers for PwD have been displayed at prominent locations at some bus stands and tactile tiles for visually impaired have also been put in place. On the basis of the compliance report submitted the commission disposed of the case.