Team Herald
PANJIM: The Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited (KTCL) buses will be fitted with hydraulic lifts to help the Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) to board them.
As many as 145 buses will be fitted with hydraulic lifts and made accessible to the PwDs, stated the KTCL officials after a demonstration of prototype of hydraulic lift at the Panjim bus terminus on Thursday.
Disability Rights Association of Goa (DRAG) President Avelino De Sa, who inspected the working of the hydraulic lift, said that it was in 2007 when law students approached the High Court to make public buses along with public buildings accessible to differently-abled persons. During the hearing, the KTCL had submitted that five buses will be fitted with hydraulic lifts and will be made accessible to persons with disabilities.
But since the KTC buses were not made accessible to differently-abled persons till last year and after it decided to introduce new environment-friendly electric buses, the DRAG made a petition to the High Court. Following this, the High Court asked the Goa State Legal Services Authority to look into the matter and ensure that the public buses are equipped with hydraulic lifts.
Now, the bus stands made persons with disabilities friendly, within next two months, 145 buses will be accessible for differently-abled persons and wheelchair users.