walkability and access audit report - bhikaiji cama place, new delhi

7/30/2019 Walkability and Access Audit Report - Bhikaiji Cama Place, New Delhi

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Walkability & Accessibility Auditof District Centre Complex: Bhikaiji Cama Place, New Delhi

Conducted by :

Svayam- National Centre for Inclusive EnvironmentsJindal Centre, Bhikaiji Cama Place, New Delhi- 110066

www.svayam.com

www.svayam.wordpress.com


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Introduction

Built in 1980, Bhikaiji Cama Place is one of New Delhisdistrict centres following the 1960 Master Plan of the city.The 35-acres area includes commercial and governmentoffices, small and mid-sized retailers, hotels and otherallied functions.

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developed around large plazas and courts. Before itsredesign in 2005, Bhikaiji Cama Place was of aninappropriately large scale and its space, disorienting forthe users. The roads and plazas were inadequately detailed

and encroached upon by parked cars. Provisions for thevendors were missing and public amenities were deficient.Drainage was an issue, with water clogging during themonsoon season, and lighting was of poor quality.


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However, in the year 2005, a major renovation wascarried out by the DDA and key interventions were madein order to improve the deteriorating conditions.

This included developing Road markings and directional

signage to guide car and pedestrian traffic. Entranceswere redesigned to make the plaza more accessiblefrom the surrounding streets and pedestrian areas wereelevated to keep them away from road traffic. A new

services were also installed. Additionally, stone topped tables, benches and kiosks for

additional food stalls were created to accommodatevendors and customers. Two public toilets were built

and a solid waste system was developed and addedalongside waste bins and garbage dumps.


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Reality Check shows a Different Picture

Today few years down the line , utter disdain for public

property and lack of maintenance and DDAs apathy, thecomplex is in shambles again.

e succee ng p otos are su c ent ev ence o t epathetic state of affairs at a major district centre in South

Delhi where prominent offices are located- thanks to lack of

maintenance by the municipal authorities and apathy of

the administration


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Pedestrian pathways on arterial roads do not provide safe

uniform access (Mahatma Gandhi Marg)

From Bhikaiji Bus Shelter near GAIL Building, there is nokerb cut and pedestrian pathway is too high

Due to kerb height elderly are forced to walk on road

endangering their lives


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Pedestrian pathways have level differences and are

unusually high with no kerb cuts

Lack of kerb-cuts and unusually high

pedestrian pathways make it difficult to

access the same

Huge level differences in Pedestrian pathways along the Ring

Road (Mahatma Gandhi Marg)


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Arbitrary stopping of the buses anywhere instead of designated

bus stops endangers life and limb of commuters (Mahatma

Gandhi Marg)

Buses stop any where on the road endangering the

lives of walkers

RTVs ferrying office goers stop any where


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Discontinuity and lack of maintenance of

the Pedestrian pathways


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The discontinuity due to lack of kerb ramps make the

pedestrian pathways inaccessible along the RingRoad (Mahatma Gandhi Marg)


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Dilapidated Pedestrian pathways in need of urgent

maintenance


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Entry to staircase from the bus Shelter

on August Kranti Marg

Blocked by cars and small boundarywhich is a trip hazard Blocked by cars and small boundary


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Encroachments on Pedestrian pathways on Mahatma Gandhi Marg showing

arbitrary placement of signage and encroachment by the parking mafia

rendering the Pedestrian pathways inaccessible to all


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Frequent level difference and blockades on internal Pedestrian

pathways to discourage walkers


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Internal Pedestrian pathways

The pathways have been reduced to 300 mm whichdoesnt even allow one person to pass thorough easily

Often they get discouraged and forced to come on road

coming in conflict with moving vehicles


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Blocked pathways due to encroachment by cars or otherwise

force users to come on the road

Adjacent to EIL Building Near EIL Building


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The pedestrian pathways that were created for pedestrians safe walking are often

found encroached by the parked vehicles and uncontrolled parking mafia


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The roads are overflowing with sewer water making walking

next to impossible


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Ramp No. 1 (Towards Ansal Chamber I)

Ramps that were provided duringthe 2005 re-designing exercise

have been rendered useless forvarious reasons.

The access to the ramp are notsign posted.

A roach to the ram is un aved

dirty and often found encroachedby parked cars

Even the passage leading to theramp is occupied by parked cars!

Bollards are placed to block thecars entry on the ramp whichitself block the ramp !

The ramps have become garbagedumping places due to blockage.


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Ramp 2 (near hp showroom)

(on August Kranti Marg side)


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The ramps have

become garbage

dumping places

due to blockage.


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Ramp 3 towards Ansal Chamber II


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Approach to Ramp ..contd


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Entrance near LIC officeSteps do not have handrails nor are colour

contrasted; no signageThe space for ramp is lying vacant and there is a need oframp here to make the complex accessible.


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Ramps from parking(Competition Commission of India side)

Ramp is blocked by a wall and is converted in to a

garbage dump

Ramp is blocked by a wall and is converted in to a

garbage dump


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Ramps from parking

(Employee Provident Fund office side)

Ramp is blocked and is converted in to a

garbage dump

Ramp is blocked and is converted in to a

garbage dump


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Accessible ParkingProvision for 3 accessible parking was made at the rampedentrance from Ansal Chamber I side. However this is alwaysfound encroached and there is lack of awareness among generalpublic about presence of such a facility.

There is no aisle space for the wheelchair user to disembark andwalk/wheel through the parked vehicles to the ramp. The entry tothe ramp is blocked by parked cars. One would otherwise getdiscouraged by the unhygienic passage leading to ramp.


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Access to the Office

complexes/buildings

The steps are damaged at

several places due to lack of

maintenance

Have no handrail to assist

.

Even the approach to these

steps is found encroached by

parked cars


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Blocked stepped entry


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The stepped entry from the arterial pedestrian pathwaysleading to the main complex is found blocked and encroached

Stepped approach blocked by tree and rumble on

the walkway Blocked by parked cars


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Blocked approach to steps contd


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General cleanliness/Hygiene


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Circulation space pose trip and safety hazards


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Garbage bin (near Ansal Chamber I)


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Garbage dump near Ramp of Ansal Chamber II)


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Incomplete toilet in the complex being

occupied by hawkers


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Public Toilet on the August Kranti Marg

There is one free PTU with an accessible unit in the

centreThe steep ramp and small door makes it inaccessible,though it displays an accessibility sign


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Status of so called Accessible toilet unit

The accessible unit was found locked; during an earliervisit, the guard was found taking food in the block

The lock was opened when confronted and the insideview indicated that it is never put to use for which it isintended


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Public Toilet (near EPF office entry)

There is no accessible toilet unit in this pubic toilet


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For Details contact :

Svayam - National Centre for Inclusive Environments, , -

Email: [email protected]; [email protected]

Web: www.svayam.com; Blog: www.svayam.wordpress.com

Voice Phone: +91- 11-61462323, 61462228, Fax: +91-11-26105671

walkability and access audit report - bhikaiji cama place, new delhi

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