Getting on Track: Accessibility Policy and the Design of the Mumbai Metro

Abstract

In 1995, India passed the Persons with Disabilities Act to legislate the principles and requirements of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Persons with Disabilities. As part of this, the Government of India boldly committed to achieving universal design in its public transit systems. Despite legal provisions for ensuring accessibility of public transport and strong harmonized guidelines, Mumbai’s suburban rail network lacks adequate considerations for people with disabilities. From limited elevators and ramps to uneven surfaces and unmarked pathways, the suburban rail system is notoriously dangerous for people with disabilities, and a recent audit suggests that fewer than 40% of railway stations are compliant with accessibility standards. However, inaccessibility is not limited to decades-old transit systems: even the recently constructed Mumbai Monorail and Metro Line One enact only some, not all of the required accessibility standards. With its Metro currently under construction, Mumbai has the opportunity to prioritize universal design, which is a cost-effective, inclusive method, and avoid previous accessibility mistakes, which are exclusionary and inefficient. This paper reviews the current state of transport accessibility across Mumbai’s existing networks in the context of established best practices around the world to suggest ways to strengthen accessibility in constructing the new Metro. It argues that in order to achieve the government’s publicly stated commitment to universal accessibility in this next generation of rail, the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority should host consultations with people with disabilities, use architects with universal design training, and implement the guidelines for barrier-free built spaces outlined by the Central Ministry of Urban Development. These steps must also be complemented by applying the same principles in concerted effort to tackle the issue of inaccessibility on Mumbai’s streets and existing rail lines to achieve universal accessibility and greater opportunities for people with disabilities.

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