New Delhi   

A gift to mark World Disability Day

Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar

Two disabled-friendly traffic lights equipped with an audio beeper and Braille signage to be installed in the Capital

SPECIAL DAY: Physically challenged children performing on the World Disability Day at St Columba's School in New Delhi on Saturday. The function was organised by Chetanalaya, an organisation supporting people with various disabilities in slums and v illages in Delhi and Haryana. — Photo: Anu Pushkarna

NEW DELHI: In what can be construed as a World Disability Day gift for lakhs of differently abled persons in the Capital, Delhi Tourism and Transport Development Corporation has approved installation of the first two disabled-friendly traffic lights which come equipped with an audio beeper and Braille signage for the benefit of road users including the visually impaired.

The first such light is proposed to be installed on Baba Kharak Singh Marg right opposite the old Connaught Place police station building.

This spot, which provides an easy access to the State Emporia Complex and the Delhi Tourism Information Centre from the Hanuman Mandir side, was chosen also because the area is frequented by a large number of disabled persons.

The other is proposed to be set up between AIIMS and Safdarjang Hospital on Aurobindo Marg. It will come up at the traffic signal near the staff quarters of the two hospitals.

The project was approved by the Managing Director of DTTDC, Ramesh Negi. While clearing the funding of nearly Rs. 60,000 per light, he said while DTTDC would provide all financial, the implementation would take place in consultation with Samarthya National Centre for Promotion of Barrier Free Environment for Disabled Persons which had also done the access audit for Dilli Haat.

Elated at the announcement, a representative of Samarthya, Sanjeev Sachdev, described it as a step forward in making Delhi barrier-free. Noting that the lights work really well, he said the software provides for an audio beeper which is installed for the benefit of the pedestrians and it tells them to stop, halt and go as the light turns red amber and green respectively. Simultaneously, there are Braille signs to assist the visually challenged in crossing the roads.

Following the success of the Dilli Haat project -- for which Mr. Negi would be receiving the National Award for Promotion of Barrier Free Environment for the Year 2005 on behalf of DTTDC from President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on Saturday, World Disability Day -- Mr Sachdev said he was confident that the new disabled-friendly signalling system would make the roads safer for all road-users.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Power consumers seek Manmohan's intervention
Delhiites in for a long dark winter
A gift to mark World Disability Day
Palika security leaves police jittery
Court notice on rehabilitation of rescued kids
Chartered accountant held
Visually challenged demand quota
`A healthcare benchmark'
Centre concerned, holds meeting
Nigerian arrested for cheating
Around the City
Briefly
In the Capital Today

Copyright © 2005, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu