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New Delhi: Aspiring for Disabled Friendly Heritage Sites

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is the latest to join the disabled-friendly bandwagon. It will soon initiate a pilot scheme, which will make Qutub Minar easily accessible for physically-challenged visitors.

“Be it the ticket counters, signage, entrance, toilets, parking spaces or the World Heritage Site, people with reduced mobility –including the elderly- will now have a smooth visit,” said ASI director general, C Babu Rajeev.

The idea is to make the Qutub Minar, the most frequented monument in the country after the Taj Mahal, a disabled-friendly site. The plan follows and audit report titled, ‘Improving access for people with reduced mobility at Qutub complex'. The report was prepared by a private organization called Svayam.

“We will be assisting ASI with aids such as Braille information plates for those with reduced vision, addressing level differences within the monument, installing metallic ramps and providing accessible toilets. We will try to reconcile both accessibility and conservation needs,” said Shivani Gupta of Svayam.

The report stated that the instructional signage at Qutub's ticket counter should be displayed on the walls instead of being on top of the counter as it is not in sight for many with reduced vision. It was further noted that, at the seventh entrance, the existing mental detector could be replaced with a wider frame for people on wheelchairs.

Once the visitor enters the monument, a layout map of the complex must be installed on the left to help those with vision impairment. “There should be adequate directional signage at the entrance and that too in Braille and should match international standards,” stated the report.

The report also recommended removal of the existing ramp and provision of ramps on opposite sides of the stairs with handrails on both sides. Additionally it was noted that the floor of the monument is mostly uneven and thus needs to be chiseled.

“Particularly in the case of Alai Darwaza , there is a wooden ramp right in the middle of the stairs, which according to the report, is not wide enough and should be put in a corner”. The report also mentioned that the ramps should not be too steep.

The key recommendations also included disabled-friendly toilets and parking lots. The report stated that, “The two toilet blocks in Qutub can only be accessed through stairs and the internal dimensions of the toilet cubicles are not suitable for disabled persons. It is therefore recommended to build at least one toilet block that will be exclusive for the disabled”.

It was further stressed that visitors with reduced mobility should be allowed to alight and board their vehicles close to the entrance and there should be accessible parking bays, with walking distance to the monument not exceeding 150 meters. The elderly should also be allowed to use the accessible parking bays. Rajeev said, “ASI experts have been directed to study the feasibility of the scheme and start the pilot scheme, which will soon be extended to other World Heritage sites.”

Source: Disabled, elderly can now hope for a smooth visit to Qutub Minar. The Times of India , New Delhi , 18 August 2006.