Activists Raise Concerns Over Marina Beach Accessibility Pathway
Disability rights activists have raised concerns over the Greater Chennai Corporation’s tender for constructing an accessible pathway at Marina Beach. They allege that the work remains incomplete and have called for better planning to ensure the facility is properly maintained and remains accessible to persons with disabilities.
The pathway is intended to help persons with disabilities access Marina Beach more easily. However, activists say that constructing the facility alone is not enough. They believe the authorities must also prepare a long-term maintenance plan, allocate funds for repairs and upkeep, and appoint dedicated staff to manage the facility.
Disability rights activist TNM Deepak said that they had started highlighting the issues related to the pathway on social media. The campaign aims to draw the attention of the authorities and the public to the challenges faced by persons with disabilities when using public spaces.
Vaishnavi Jayakumar, a member of the Disability Rights Alliance (DRA), welcomed the plan to rebuild the Marina Beach access boardwalk after the monsoon season. However, she stressed that the rebuilding work should be carried out with better planning and consultation with persons with disabilities.
In July, the DRA team had requested a detailed technical examination of the materials removed from the dismantled pathway. The group also sought an inspection of the accessible boardwalk at Besant Nagar Beach by experts to assess its condition and identify areas that need improvement.
According to Jayakumar, neither of these requests had been addressed so far. The group believes that examining the old materials and inspecting the existing facility would help authorities understand the problems and avoid similar issues in the future.
Activists have called on the Greater Chennai Corporation to work closely with disability rights groups while rebuilding the pathway. They have also stressed the need for regular inspections, proper maintenance, sufficient funding and trained staff to ensure that the facility remains safe and usable.
The issue has highlighted the importance of making public beaches more inclusive. Activists say that people with disabilities should be involved in the planning and development of accessibility facilities so that the final structures meet their actual needs.