Footpaths for differently abled: BMC re-invites proposal to empanel NGOs

Time of India

2 days ago

Mumbai: While BMC has re-invited RFPs (request for proposal) to empanelNGOs to carry out audits of footpaths to ensure accessibility for persons with disabilities, it is set to further relax conditions for the NGOs.
Its earlier tender could not be completed due to stringent conditions like financial turnover, experience, and manpower requirement. Subsequently, BMC relaxed some of the criteria and reinvited the RFP. However, its pre-bid meeting saw participation from only one NGO. The BMC is likely to relax conditions further.
The NGOs are required to prepare a detailed report on the accessibility of existing and newly proposed footpaths assigned to them, based on guidelines issued by Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan.
They are also supposed to suggest rectifications. The NGOs have to carry out a detailed footpath accessibility audit of all such footpaths and recommend suggestions or ideas to improve accessibility for footpath users whenever a potential problem is identified.
The NGOs will assess footpaths in BMC jurisdiction, analyse the situation, and propose solutions based on an agreed approach to addressing accessibility issues for disabled persons.
According to BMC, the objective of the assignment is to ensure accessibility to footpaths for persons with disabilities (PwDs). BMC will take steps to implement conscious planning for the safe design, construction, and operations/maintenance of footpaths to ensure accessibility for PwDs.
The aim is to ensure that a person in a wheelchair or someone who is blind can traverse and access a footpath without any hindrance, said a BMC official.
"An audit will not reveal anything we do not already know. We are well aware that conditions are very bad on all our arterial roads, especially in the suburbs. An audit can be done for free by BMC crowdsourcing feedback from citizen groups like ALMs and concerned citizens. What is required is that BMC incorporate all key requirements for pedestrian infrastructure in their road contracts. This has not happened in the case of the road concretisation contracts awarded in past 2-3 years.
That is unpardonable and a great loss. Footpaths and accessibility cannot be an afterthought. BMC should now take up key arterial roads and stretches and bring pedestrian infrastructure to the highest standards," said Rishi Agarwal, founder of the pedestrian advocacy group Walking Project.