Revised bids for PwD-friendly Chennai bus shelters

28 May 2024 CW Team

The city corporation announced its intention to issue a corrigendum regarding the tenders that were issued in two packages for the refurbishment and upkeep of 765 existing bus shelters within the city, totalling Rs 2.9 million in expenses. The revisions aim to address design specifications to ensure accessibility. These tenders were initially put forth on March 13.

This decision follows after Vaishnavi Jayakumar from the Disability Rights Alliance corresponded with the corporation commissioner, highlighting a discrepancy in the tender's provisions. Specifically, the drawings in the tender only included a ramp for three-pole bus shelters, totaling 357, leaving out the two-pole structures.

In the letter, it was noted, "Even the three-pole bus shelter drawing disappoints with its unsafe and restrictive ramp access abutting the bus shelter rather than a blended bus shelter organically rising from the pavement." The collective emphasized the necessity for additional specifications and a comprehensive design drawing to ensure that any renovation is not considered finished.

A corporation official stated, "The Disability Rights Alliance had two demands- one for a corrigendum and another for a joint meeting with all stakeholders including CUMTA, CMDA, and MTC. While the latter is not solely in our hands, we have decided to issue a corrigendum in the next two days."

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