Mumbai's draft development plan has designs to give disabled a leg up

MUMBAI: The draft Development Control Regulations (DCR) 2034 has achieved a unique distinction—it has incorporated designs to aid the physically challenged from suggestions received in the stakeholder’s workshops held by the BMC in 2014.
Activists lauded the BMC for including suggestions to remove the obstacles that the disabled face every day in the draft Development Plan (DP) 2034.
Activist Sunita Sancheti, who is also wheelchair user, said, “Many of our friends abstain from travelling because there is no proper access available for the disabled.If the administration has incorporated such distinguishing features, it would also be of help to senior citizens and people with injuries.”
As a part of the revision of the draft Development Plan 2034, the BMC has prepared draft Development Control Regulations to guide civic officials, land owners and professionals concerned to formulate development proposals in accordance with the objectives and provisions of the plan.
“The Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995, requires that equal opportunities are offered to disabled people. A separate section in the General Development Control Rules for design of the physically-challenged people has been incorporated considering the aging population and needs of the physically challenged in the city. Availability of lifts up to the terrace with unobstructed terrace floor was one of the demands to enhance the accessibility to the terrace by disabled people with easy movement of wheelchairs,” said the executive summary of the draft Development Plan 2034.
The Development Plan 2034 draft has been the first that has taken into account citizens’ suggestions and objections and has made an “honest attempt” to make the drafting process as inclusive and participatory as possible. In August 2014, ward-level consultations were conducted in the presence of the assistant municipal commissioner and MPs, MLAs, corporators, NGOs/ALMs and local residents invited to put forth their suggestions.
Activist Neenu Kewlani, a wheelchair user who accompanied the H-West Ward Federation to meet BMC authorities while the latter was formulating the draft DP last year, said, “We had made a presentation about the barriers we face every day. We explained the need for better access facilities at schools, colleges, hospitals and other places. The DP draft holds a lot of importance as it would impact people’s lives for the next two decades.”