Walkability & Accessibility Audit

of District Centre Complex: Bhikaiji Cama Place, New Delhi

Conducted by :

Svayam- National Centre for Inclusive Environments

Jindal Centre, Bhikaiji Cama Place, New Delhi- 110066

www.svayam.com www.svayam.wordpress.com

Introduction
Built in 1980, Bhikaiji Cama Place is one of New Delhis district centres following the 1960 Master Plan of the city. The 35-acres area includes commercial and government offices, small and mid-sized retailers, hotels and other allied functions. The complex comprises high to mid-rise building blocks developed around large plazas and courts. Before its redesign in 2005, Bhikaiji Cama Place was of an inappropriately large scale and its space, disorienting for the users. The roads and plazas were inadequately detailed and encroached upon by parked cars. Provisions for the vendors were missing and public amenities were deficient. Drainage was an issue, with water clogging during the monsoon season, and lighting was of poor quality.

 However, in the year 2005, a major renovation was carried out by the DDA and key interventions were made in order to improve the deteriorating conditions. This included developing Road markings and directional signage to guide car and pedestrian traffic. Entrances were redesigned to make the plaza more accessible from the surrounding streets and pedestrian areas were elevated to keep them away from road traffic. A new storm water drainage and provision of ducts for future services were also installed. Additionally, stone topped tables, benches and kiosks for additional food stalls were created to accommodate vendors and customers. Two public toilets were built and a solid waste system was developed and added alongside waste bins and garbage dumps.

Reality Check shows a Different Picture

Today few years down the line , utter disdain for public property and lack of maintenance and DDAs apathy, the complex is in shambles again. The succeeding photos are sufficient evidence of the pathetic 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

Pedestrian pathways on arterial roads do not provide safe uniform access (Mahatma Gandhi Marg)
From Bhikaiji Bus Shelter near GAIL Building, there is no kerb cut and pedestrian pathway is too high Due to kerb height elderly are forced to walk on road endangering their lives

Huge level differences in Pedestrian pathways along the Ring Road (Mahatma Gandhi Marg)
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

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

Discontinuity and lack of maintenance of the Pedestrian pathways

The discontinuity due to lack of kerb ramps make the pedestrian pathways inaccessible along the Ring Road (Mahatma Gandhi Marg)

Dilapidated Pedestrian pathways in need of urgent maintenance

Entry to staircase from the bus Shelter on August Kranti Marg

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

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

Frequent level difference and blockades on internal Pedestrian pathways to discourage walkers

Internal Pedestrian pathways

The pathways have been reduced to 300 mm which doesnt even allow one person to pass thorough easily
Often they get discouraged and forced to come on road coming in conflict with moving vehicles

Blocked pathways due to encroachment by cars or otherwise force users to come on the road Adjacent to EIL Building Near EIL Building

The pedestrian pathways that were created for pedestrians safe walking are often found encroached by the parked vehicles and uncontrolled parking mafia

The roads are overflowing with sewer water making walking next to impossible

Ramp No. 1 (Towards Ansal Chamber I)

Ramps that were provided during the 2005 re-designing exercise have been rendered useless for various reasons. The access to the ramp are not sign posted. Approach to the ramp is unpaved, dirty and often found encroached by parked cars Even the passage leading to the ramp is occupied by parked cars! Bollards are placed to block the cars entry on the ramp which itself block the ramp ! The ramps have become garbage dumping places due to blockage.

Ramp 2 (near hp showroom)

(on August Kranti Marg side)

The ramps have become garbage dumping places due to blockage.

Ramp 3 towards Ansal Chamber II

Approach to Ramp ..contd

Entrance near LIC office

Steps do not have handrails nor are colour contrasted; no signage
The space for ramp is lying vacant and there is a need of ramp here to make the complex accessible.

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

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

Accessible Parking
Provision for 3 accessible parking was made at the ramped entrance from Ansal Chamber I side. However this is always found encroached and there is lack of awareness among general public about presence of such a facility. There is no aisle space for the wheelchair user to disembark and walk/wheel through the parked vehicles to the ramp. The entry to the ramp is blocked by parked cars. One would otherwise get discouraged by the unhygienic passage leading to ramp.

Access to the Office complexes/buildings

The steps are damaged at several places due to lack of maintenance Have no handrail to assist persons with reduced mobility. Even the approach to these steps is found encroached by parked cars

Blocked stepped entry

The stepped entry from the arterial pedestrian pathways leading to the main complex is found blocked and encroached
Stepped approach blocked by tree and rumble on the walkway Blocked by parked cars

Blocked approach to steps contd

General cleanliness/Hygiene

Circulation space pose trip and safety hazards

Garbage bin (near Ansal Chamber I)

Garbage dump near Ramp of Ansal Chamber II)

Incomplete toilet in the complex being occupied by hawkers

Public Toilet on the August Kranti Marg

There is one free PTU with an accessible unit in the centre The steep ramp and small door makes it inaccessible, though it displays an accessibility sign

Status of so called Accessible toilet unit

The accessible unit was found locked; during an earlier visit, the guard was found taking food in the block The lock was opened when confronted and the inside view indicated that it is never put to use for which it is intended

Public Toilet (near EPF office entry)

There is no accessible toilet unit in this pubic toilet

For Details contact :

Svayam - National Centre for Inclusive Environments

Jindal Centre, Bhikaiji Cama Place, New Delhi- 110066 Email: editor@svayam.com; svayam.india@gmail.com Web: www.svayam.com; Blog: www.svayam.wordpress.com Voice Phone: +91- 11-61462323, 61462228, Fax: +91-11-26105671