Only 36 Foot-Over-Bridges Of Public Works Department Are Disabled Friendly In National Capital: Delhi Govt To High Court

The submission was made before the division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad in response to a petition alleging non-functionality of lifts and escalators attached to the foot-over bridges. The petitioner today reiterated the submission that even though the aforesaid facility is available in respect of 36 foot-over bridges, all of them are not functional.

The counsel representing the government submitted that the department will carry out a survey of all the foot-over bridges within four weeks and within six months, the exercise of making all of them disabled friendly will be completed, by installing the lifts or constructing ramps.

Listing the matter for hearing on March 23, the court said a status report be filed in respect of the work carried out by the government of Delhi. The court earlier observed, "see the chart says, whether accessible to senior citizens and persons with disability, most of them no, no, no, no..."

The high court in March this year had directed the government to file a status report specifically indicating the position with regard to access to foot-over bridges and other bridges in Delhi, as to whether they are accessible to senior citizens and persons with disabilities.

The petition filed by a lawyer Pankaj Mehta seeks appropriate directions to ensure full accessibility to lifts, foot over bridges, and other public amenities and structures for specially-abled and senior citizens. The petition also seeks compliance of the provisions under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, Article 14, Article 19 (1) (d), and Article 21 of the Constitution of India.

Title: Pankaj Mehta versus Union of India & Ors.