The Capital Development Authority (CDA) often does not erect necessary curb ramps to ensure that people with disabilities can move throughout the city in a safe and convenient manner. Ishaq Khan, a disabled boy told APP, that without the required curb ramps, sidewalk travel in most of the areas is dangerous, difficult, and in some cases, impossible for people who use wheelchairs, scooters, and other mobility aids.
He said that curb ramps allow people with mobility impairments to gain access to the sidewalks and to pass through centre in streets, otherwise, these individuals are forced to travel in streets and roads and are put in danger or are prevented from reaching their destination.
Enlightening on the subject, an Engineer, Inam Khan said that when streets and roads are newly built or altered, they must have ramps wherever there are curbs or other barriers to entry from a pedestrian walkway. "And likewise, when new sloped areas wherever they intersect with streets or roads," he added. He pointed that while resurfacing a street or sidewalk is considered an alteration for these purposes, filling in potholes alone would not trigger the alteration requirements.
"At existing roads and sidewalks that have not been altered, however, civic body may choose to construct curb ramps at every point where a pedestrian walkway intersects a curb, but they are not necessarily required to do so." He stressed that curb ramps provide basic access at intersections and pedestrian crossings. He advised the CDA to establish an ongoing procedure for installing curb ramps, upon request in both residential and non-residential areas frequented by individuals with disabilities.
Comments
Comments are closed.