Proposal for audible signals at traffic lights

New Delhi: Delhi Legislative Assembly speaker Vijender Gupta has urged lieutenant governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu to install audible pedestrian signals at traffic intersections across the capital to enhance safety for visually impaired persons and elderly pedestrians. In a letter to LG, Gupta highlighted concerns about the lack of accessible pedestrian infrastructure and cited research from Dr Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). According to the study, nearly 60 lakh Delhi residents suffer from some form of vision impairment, with 20–30% experiencing significantly blurred vision. This suggests that 12–18 lakh people may be living with low vision, facing heightened risks on busy city roads. The letter noted that several countries — including Japan, Singapore, UK, US, Canada, Australia and Brazil — have already deployed audible pedestrian signals, which use beeps or ticking sounds to guide the visually impaired. Gupta argued that implementing similar systems at major crossings in Delhi would improve accessibility, reduce accidents and make the city's roads more inclusive for all. tnn