Enhanching Public Transport Accessibility for Differently abled Communities:

Abstract

In India, differently-abled faces difficulties when traveling on public transport, be it road infrastructure or traveling in buses or trains, and metro systems. Though several measures have been taken, like the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, and Accessible India, the lack of accessible public places and transport facilities persists. Mostly, trains and buses are unprepared for wheelchair users to travel. Since most of them lack these facilities, they find it tough to travel. In such a scenario, the visually challenged are faced with commuters Braille inaccessible signage. Other barriers include the non-availability of convenient road infrastructure and inaccessible first-mile and last-mile connectivity. An effective study of the methods of public transportation found that fewer than 6% of the 1.45 lakh public transport buses in India have adequate facilities that make them wheelchair friendly. Of these, only 29% are partially accessible. This research aims to assess, evaluate, and recommend improvements in the accessibility of public transport for differently-abled communities, covering a comprehensive study of infrastructure, road conditions, and first and last-mile connectivity. In this regard, the purpose of this study begins with a comprehensive literature review, where the state of public transport accessibility of differing capabilities within Indian cities is analyzed. Issues and barriers are identified in the process. However, the central part of the research is through the baseline survey with in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and other participatory methods to collect direct insights from differing capabilities regarding their experience and problems with public transport. Subsequently, primary and secondary data will be analyzed to identify certain problems with tools like the Public Transport Accessibility Levels for Differently abled people and a Road infrastructure assessment to gain an understanding of broader factors influencing accessibility. The final result is the proposals for improving accessibility, which will include a wide range of strategies from technological innovations to policy recommendations tailored for the provision of a more inclusive public transport system. Enhancing Public Transport Accessibility for Differently Abled Communities: A Case of Nagpur City Department of Transport Planning, School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal (MP)-462030 ii The result of the analysis of making public transport accessible for the differently-abled community is based on three parameters: destination, functionality, and safety. For the destination parameter, walking distance layers to various Points of Interest from network analysis. Functionality was based on road infrastructure; Safety was based on the slope function to derive the slope. As part of the process to improve public transport accessibility for the differently-abled community, recommendations will be based on road infrastructure and first and last-mile connectivity. An accessibility level map will be generated based on high and low-accessible areas, and provisions will be prioritized in low-accessible areas first. This research contributes to the broader discourse on inclusive urban transport systems by detailing a pragmatic approach to serve the differently-abled better in their public transportation.