The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : `The disabled need better facilities at stadium'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 06, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

`The disabled need better facilities at stadium'

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, OCT. 5. The Chinnaswamy Cricket Stadium, where the India-Australia Test match is to begin Wednesday, is not as inaccessible for the physically challenged as some other public places, but it could be a lot better.

This was found during an "access audit" conducted at the stadium on Tuesday at the instance of Pradeep Kumar, Assistant Commissioner at the office of the Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities. The Proof Energy Centre (PEC) and the non-governmental organisation, Voices, conducted the audit.

According to sub-committee member Santosh Menon, the audit covered aspects such as toilets and parking to see how disabled-friendly the facilities were. Karnataka State Cricket Association secretary Brijesh Patel felt strongly about making the stadium more accessible, particularly since his father was disabled.

Narrow corridor

The PEC team found that there was only one entrance now for the disabled, `P4,' a four-foot corridor through which persons using crutches and those in wheelchairs could get to their seats. The corridor was very narrow, and there were puddles of water and television cables running along the passage. There was also no way for the disabled to reach the first floor, and they had to be seated on the ground floor, it was found.

Currently, there is no special enclosure for the disabled; all of them have to be accommodated in the pavilion irrespective of the ticket they hold. The pavilion is located on the immediate right of the corridor and access is not a problem. If a disabled person insists on sitting with the "crowd," he or she is allowed to do so.

There are no toilets specifically designed for the needs of the disabled, but there are two — one for women and another for men — located in the entry corridor.

Food and beverages are not a problem as most vendors come to the pavilion.

Exclusive stand

The team learned that the stadium authorities were planning to make B-Stand an enclosure exclusively for the disabled. It would have all facilities such as disabled-friendly toilets, parking and food service.

The tickets would be reasonably priced. This might materialise in a year. However, some disabled sports fans had misgivings about being "segregated."

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