Differently abled persons seek accessible bus stops in Coimbatore

A bus stop in Coimbatore that persons with disabilities say lacks essential accessibility features. | Photo Credit: M. PERIASAMY Persons with disabilities in Coimbatore have urged the civic authorities to make bus stops barrier-free, saying inaccessible public transport infrastructure continues to limit their mobility.H. Ismail Usain, a wheelchair user, said many bus stops lack basic accessibility features such as kerb ramps, ramps with prescribed gradients, tactile paving, level boarding areas and unobstructed pedestrian access. The gap between the bus and the kerb, coupled with the absence of raised boarding platforms, makes boarding and alighting difficult for wheelchair users, he said.J. Karunakaran, founder of Oondrukol Trust, an NGO working for persons with disabilities, said the organisation had repeatedly petitioned the government to adopt universal design standards in public infrastructure, but little had changed on the ground.“Most persons with disabilities belong to economically weaker sections and depend on public transport. They cannot afford to hire autorickshaws or cabs regularly, which can cost ₹5,000 to ₹10,000 a month. Accessible bus stops, continuous footpaths with dropped kerbs, tactile paving and level boarding are essential for independent mobility,” he said.In April 2023, the Madras High Court directed municipal corporations across Tamil Nadu to constitute committees with officials and representatives of organisations for persons with disabilities to plan low-floor bus operations. It also ordered that bus stops be scientifically designed for wheelchair accessibility, alongside measures such as real-time bus tracking and improved road quality to make public transport more inclusive.Officials of the Coimbatore Corporation said the demands would be discussed with senior officials and representatives of persons with disabilities before appropriate measures are considered. Published - July 29, 2026 07:18 pm IST