NEW DELHI: A set of stiffened norms for getting hotel projects approved has made it mandatory for all the existing and under construction hotels in the country to be differently-abled friendly and comply with the new security guidelines.
The revision in the guidelines which came after a five-year gap, stipulates that all the existing and new hotels of all categories across the country would now have to comply with the requirements for the differently abled persons in respect of accessibility, special rooms and other facilities in the public area by 1 September, 2010.
At least one room exclusively for the differently abled guest has been made obligatory with a minimum door width of one metre to allow wheelchair access. The room also needs to have suitable low height furniture, low peephole, cupboard with sliding doors and low cloth hangers. An audible and visible (blinking light) alarm system should be provided inside the room, according to the new guidelines. The bathroom should be wheelchair accessible with sliding door and suitable fixtures like low washbasin, low height toilet, grab bars etc, the norms demand.
The hotels should also have ramps with anti-slip floors at the entrance for smooth entrance of the wheelchairs.
According to the new guidelines, all the hotels will have to beef up the security and safety levels depending on their star category. Metal detectors, CCTVs, X-Ray machines and under belly scanners to screen the vehicles entering the premises have been made compulsory for hotels according to their ratings.