New byelaws to make public places disabled-friendly

NEW DELHI: Once the new building byelaws for Delhi come into being, negotiating public places may become less of a hurdle’s race for the physically challenged. The byelaws will incorporate provisions of the Disabilities Act. The norms will be mandatory for not just public structures, but also group-housing societies.
"Any place which is visited by a large number of people will have to be completely accessible.This is one of the reasons we are also considering allowing elevators in smaller buildings. Only individual-owned private properties will be exempt," said an MCD source.
An expert committee on Monday approved the base byelaws. "We are now set to work on the performance byelaws that will spell out fire and structural safety norms and imbibe the tenets of the Disabilities Act to induce a more inclusive atmosphere. This work will be completed in two months," said MCD commissioner Rakesh Mehta.
The corporation has roped in like former fire chief S K Dehri and Structural Engineers’ association president Mahinder Raj for working on fire and structural safety norms. The committee has also finalised the names of five colonies whose local area plans (LAP) will be prepared on a pilot basis.
"Vasant Vihar has been chosen to represent a planned colony, Jamroodpur, an urbanised village. Karol Bagh will represent the special area where development has reached its peak and needs revitalisation. Hauz Qazi and Sangam Vihar will represent heritage settlements and unauthorised colonies, respectively," said MCD commissioner Rakesh Mehta.
The corporation, however, has to still settle some issues like if architects should be allowed to give sanction for smaller structures that are to be used for residential purposes. "Noida already does this, but we may not have enough architects and this may cause a fee hike," said Mehta.