Odisha capital to have audio guides at traffic junctions

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Mar 28:

Soon, audio guides will be installed at major traffic signals in Odisha capital so as to help the people with disabilities (PWDs).

Dr. Krishan Kumar – VC BDA and MD Bhubaneswar Smart City Limited said: “Bhubaneswar is going to have audio guides at some of the key traffic junctions to help PWDs. Accessibility to transport is our major concern and it is under process to be devised for the entire city matrix. Janpath will be the first street in Bhubaneswar to become completely accessible to all citizens including PWDs. For accessible streets we have drafted street guidelines, which is now open for public opinion. We are going to formalise it soon.’’

As part of its Bhubaneswar Urban Lecture Series, Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) in collaboration with well-known social service organisation Swabhiman, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Bhubaneswar Smart City Ltd today organised a day-long workshop “Smart Accessibility Solutions in Bhubaneswar” to discuss on universal design and digital inclusion.

Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary Dr. R. Balakrishnan said, there should be ramps, machines and smart features for visually challenged persons in all new infrastructure projects to come up in the city in the future days.

He urged the partnering organisations to work for Odisha government’s Vision 2036 in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) commemorating the centenary celebrations of the formation of separate state. He also requested the forum to give suggestions to enrich the document with at least a paragraph. He said to make it more transparent, more inclusive and more accessible

Sruti Mohapatra from Swabhiman said: “Apart from the physical infrastructure accessibility should be ensured through the various technological interventions and use of tools, IT-based applications to cater to the needs of the PWDs.”