BENGALURU: Architect Mala Sugantha points out issues with infrastructure that bars accessibility for senior citizens. “Most Metro stations, barring a few are not wheel chair accessible for senior citizens who can’t take stairs,” she says. The 50-year-old points out that at Indiranagar Metro station only one gate is wheel chair accessible. “How does one know, which gate to take”, she questions.
Bellur Laxminarayana, 74 complains of an absence of escalator at Yelachenahalli Metro station. “Taking the stairs is very difficult at this age,” says the retired RBI employee.Praveen S, a resident of Indiranagar points that one entrance of the Metro station in his area requires one to take two lifts to get to the platform, while another lets you in with a single lift. “There is a clear misplanning there. Taking two lifts to get to a platform is tedious for a senior citizen,” he says. Diana Barucha, 57, president, RWA, Jeevan Bhima nagar says the pedestrian path (CMH Road) leading to the Indiranagar Metro station too is a major concern.
“It is not in a condition, where the elderly can walk free. You walk 20 ft on the footpath, then get down on the road and get back on the footpath again and then back to the road. That’s how congested it is,” she says. The footpath on CMH Road has primarily been encroached by vendors and occupied by an illegal autorickshaw stand too, says Praveen. “Several don’t take the Metro train because walking to the station is a struggle,” he adds. Several senior citizens take their own vehicles instead of the train to MG Road because of this, says Praveen.
A lot of senior citizens would use the Metro train if there was better parking facility. “Namma Metro owns a land opposite the office of the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Traffic. We request BMRCL to turn that into a multi-level parking space,” says Diana. She, however, informs that the land is being considered to build a Rangoli Metro centre instead.