Last mile travel for disabled travellers on Delhi Metro to become accessible

Delhi Metro is all set to become even more accessible for travellers with disabilities from 2019.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has decided to procure feeder buses that are accessible for people with disabilities. Earlier, it had floated a tender for buses without low floors, which would have been hard for the elderly, pregnant women and disabled people to board.

Now, in a welcome move, the the specifications of the tender have been changed to low-floor buses that are disabled-friendly.

The change comes after the Supreme Court stepped in and issued specific guidelines on this matter. This was also recommended by a special committee formed by the State Transport Authority to look accessible transport.

I think it is wonderful that the DMRC has been proactive about the comfort and needs of travellers with disabilities. Now they are planning to provide accessible last mile travel facility for disabled metro users and that is great. The decision will ensure that people with disabilities can travel with dignity and comfort which is their right as per the RPWD Act 2016. – Nipun Malhotra, CEO, Nipman Foundation

The DMRC will launch 905 feeder buses that will run across 53 routes and will seat 16-22 people.

In the first phase, 427 buses will start moving across the Capital. Later 250 additional buses will be introduced.

Currently only 69 feeder buses are available to ferry people from and to the Metro stations. The number is not enough considering the fact that around two lakh people use them every day and the demand is growing.

A welcome step by the DMRC for last mile connectivity for metro users. As we know that metro stations are accessible but it is difficult to reach there due to lack of accessible transport. Disabled metro commuters have to rely on friends and family to drop them at the metro stations. Along with it, the footpaths and roads leading to metro station should also have barrier free proper gradient and supporting bars, tactiles and signs to provide a seamless experience.- Sameer Garg, founder Billionables

The new feeder buses will come with GPS and CCTV cameras. There won’t be a conductor as travellers will use their Metro smart cards. This will ensure that the use of the feeder buses is restricted to Metro travellers.

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