RTI reveals accessibility gaps across corporation’s bus fleet
Shahin Bepari Lambe
Panaji: More than 91 per cent of Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited (KTCL) buses do not have wheelchair-accessible ramps, while 77.5 per cent lack audio announcement systems and display screens, according to information obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
The RTI reply, issued by KTCL this month in response to an application filed by Harsh M Parab, a 100 per cent visually impaired resident of Salvador do Mundo, sought details on facilities available for persons with disabilities (PwDs) in KTCL buses and bus stands.
According to the reply, KTCL operates a fleet of 515 vehicles across the state. Of these, 470 buses do not have wheelchair-accessible ramps. Only 45 buses are equipped with ramps.
The information also shows that 399 buses do not have audio announcement systems and display screens to inform passengers about upcoming stops. Only 48 have both automated announcement systems and display screens, while another 68 buses have manual announcement systems but no screens.
The availability of audio announcements and display screens is particularly important for visually impaired passengers, while wheelchair ramps assist passengers with mobility impairments.
The reply further states that KTCL has 16 bus stands under its jurisdiction across Goa. Of these, seven— Assonora, Honda, Valpoi, Shiroda, Marcela, Pernem and Sankhali — have been identified as disability-friendly.
KTCL said basic facilities such as ramps, audio-visual systems, assistive devices including wheelchairs and dedicated parking spaces for PwDs have been provided at bus stands. It said Braille signage has been installed at the newly- renovated Panaji bus stand.
It also said accessible toilets are available at all bus stands except Bicholim and Vasco.
Separate toilet facilities for PwDs have been provided at the Panaji, Mapusa, Margao, Cuncolim and Ponda bus stands.
However, KTCL said all provisions under the Harmonised Guidelines and Standards for Universal Accessibility in India, 2016, may not have been fully addressed and added that the current accessibility status may not completely match prescribed standards.
To improve accessibility, KTCL said it has requested the Public Works Department to conduct detailed inspections and accessibility audits of all bus stands through certified accessibility experts. It has also requested the Department for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities to carry out accessibility audits and submit reports on improvements required.
Vishant Nagvekar, a person with disability, said accessibility could not be assessed solely on the basis of facilities listed on paper.
“The actual condition on the ground matters. The hydraulic lifting system for wheelchairs is not working properly”, he alleged seeking to know who was looking after their maintenance.
Nagvekar added that merely providing a wheelchair at a bus stand does not automatically make it accessible. He alleged KTCL’s claim regarding Braille facilities at the Panaji bus stand did not match the experience of some users.
