Delhi HC asks Delhi Metro to copy disabled friendly ways of London Tube

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Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday (July 10) sought reply from Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) whether the facility which is provided to disabled persons in London Tube service can be replicated in New Delhi.

During the course of proceedings on how disabled friendly the DMRC buildings and other government facilities were, the bench of acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar sought to know how many buildings have been audited as regards disabled access.

DMRC’s counsel informed the bench that an organisation has been deputed to conduct the audit of 10 organisations out of which six organisations have been audited.

The counsel appearing for GNCTD said that tenders were invited from audit agencies to conduct audit of 59 buildings in New Delhi spreading across 11 phases out of which six phases have been conducted.

The counsel further informed that no audit agency came forward to audit the Delhi Police building. At this the bench directed the PWD, Delhi Police to take the help of the Nipun Malhotra Foundation.

In the overall picture of disabled friendly government buildings, the SDMC counsel said it will file a status report during the course of the day.

The EDMC said that it has issued tenders for the renovation of buildings to make them disabled friendly.

New Delhi Municipal Committee and Delhi Cantonment Board said that it will file a new status report specifying the training module in which the government officers who shall train their staff to sensitise in their respective organisations.

The matter was listed for next hearing to August 21.

The bench was acting on the plea by Nipun Malhotra who wants the public facilities in New Delhi to be disabled friendly.

—India Legal Bureau