By Juliana Sridhar
On Feb.11, the wheelchair-accessible wooden pathway was inaugurated by Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin at Elliot’s Beach.
The idea to set up this pathway was mooted way back in 2016 on World Disability Day, when the then Deputy Commissioner-Works, K.S.Kandaswamy, IAS, visited Vidya Sagar (a disability services and support organisation in Kotturpuram) and held discussions with the students over there. When asked which place they would like to visit, most of them suggested the beach. At that time, there was no provision for people with disabilities to visit the beach as it was not accessible by wheelchairs.
The Disability Rights Alliance Tamilnadu (DRA TN) team also felt that it was the duty of the government to make public places (including beaches) accessible for people with disabilities. Thus, they met the GCC Commissioner, who set up a group of officials for this purpose. They also met Raj Cherubal, CEO of Chennai Smart City, and local community members, including environmentalists, vendors, fishermen groups, residents and beach users in this regard.
Their efforts bore fruit, and the first pathway was set up at Marina Beach in 2022, following which it was agreed to make Elliot’s Beach wheelchair accessible.
There were some initial hiccups regarding the exact location of the pathway. While the officials suggested it be put up at the Ashtalakshmi Temple beach, DRA TN preferred to have the ramp at the most happening location on the beach. It was finally decided to put it up on the main road.
Accordingly, the plan was put into action, and a wooden open pathway with railings was constructed with a beach viewing deck in full compliance with CRZ rules. This has become a big hit among beachgoers. There are a few wooden benches on both sides of the pathway where people can sit.
The DRA TN team wanted this pathway to be an inclusive path so that apart from people with disabilities, even elderly people, children and pregnant women can use it. There are beach wheelchairs that people with disabilities can make use of, and they are kept in a storage container on the road, outside the path. The wheelchairs are fitted with special floating wheels that can even go on water.
Special parking slots have been reserved (5 nos) for the vehicles of people with disabilities. DRA TN is now working on toilets to be put up in an area closest to the pathway. Work will begin on this shortly.
The next project will be to make Thiruvanmiyur Beach wheelchair accessible, and a tender for the same is said to have been issued.
