NSCBI gears up for ‘passengers with reduced mobility’

Kolkata, Aug 30 (IANS) The Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport here has begun the process of upgrading the infrastructure and facilities to provide barrier-free transit to 'Passengers with Reduced Mobility', an official said on Friday.

In order to comply with Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, an extensive upgradation programme is being chalked out, Airport Director Kaushik Bhattacharjee said.

The new law has replaced the earlier act, enacted in 1995.

"The facilities will be upgraded to meet the requirement of three major categories of PRM i.e. locomotive disability, visual impairment and hearing & speech impairment. All agencies should work together to remove the four barriers, namely physical, environmental, organisational and most importantly, attitudinal to eliminate discrimination on the ground of disability so that their dignity is maintained at airport," an official statement said.

In an official meeting with all the stake-holders, it has been decided that infrastructural development work will be taken up in phases.

"Right from parking spaces and ramps on city side kerb to the boarding point, including, ticketing and check-in counters, corridors, eateries, railings, rest rooms, guiding and warning tactile tiles and signage etc. will be reviewed and modified, wherever required. Similar facilities will be provided on arrival too," it said.

The schedule of upgradation will be finalised after receiving inputs from the airlines, concessionaires and other stakeholders, he added.