Chennai buses not disabled-friendly

The ordeal disabled passengers face everyday in Chennai was shocking enough. Now consider this. Out of Chennai`s government-run fleet of 3262 buses, hardly a handful are disabled-friendly. That`s for about a lakh disabled people in the city. This too was only after this young man with cerebral palsy took the Tamil Nadu government to Court in 2005.Rajul Padmanabhan, director, Vidya Sagar, says: "Only 2 or 3 buses are accessible. Accessibility is for everyone, not just for the disabled. It`s for pregnant mothers, old people, everyone."

Since that court battle, the government has rolled out 1034 new buses. It claims some of them have low floors and are suitable for the disabled. But what happens when drivers don`t halt properly at bus stops? Or when route numbers are just not displayed at stops?Social activist Meenakshi Balasubramanian says: "There is also no audible info for the visually challenged. No proper signages."The state's Transport Secretary Debendranath Sarangi says: "The state government is very concerned about the comfort of disabled passengers. We will make necessary changes."

The managing directors of various transport corporations of Tamil Nadu are now in Delhi to seek Central funds for more buses. These special residents have just one prayer: "Remember us when you roll out your next fleet of new buses."