The wooden permanent ramp has been installed at Chennai’s Marina Beach and will become operational today after Chief Minister of State MK Stalin will inaugurate it at 4 pm. The Greater Chennai Corporation has decided to install a ramp to help differently-abled citizens enjoy the scenic view offered by the Marina Beach.
The ramp is India’s first permanent ramp for the disabled and is the first of many ramps to be installed at multiple locations across the city.
Steady Ramp: A huge game changer
The wooden permanent ramp is a big game changer for physically challenged citizens as they can now enjoy the waves and sea breeze from the shore, Hindustan Times reported.
The first photo was from November 2016 where wheelchairs can be quite a distance from Marina Beach; and now with the beach path they can get very close to the beach! The result of an excellent campaign by the author @DisabilityIndia! #Disabled rights pic.twitter.com/Geh2CH9Lt8
— Ananth Rupanagudi (@Ananth_IRAS) November 27, 2022
The ramp is 235 meters long and 3.4 meters wide. Built at a cost of ₹ 1.5 crore, it stands opposite Vivekananda Illam in Marina and provides easy access to citizens. In addition, handrails have been installed to assist senior citizens and the disabled who will be using the ramp.
While talking to The Hindu, an official said, “This is India’s first permanent ramp for the disabled at the beach. It is constructed of three types of wood: babool, red meranti and Brazilian wood. Openings have been provided every 10 meters to allow walkers crossing the sandy beaches. The viewpoint is almost 10 meters from the sea.”
‘Everyone will benefit’
For more than a decade, several activists have demanded a ramp at the Marina Beach, for which several protests have been organized. One such activist is Deepak Nathan, who is the national president of the December 3 Movement, which advocates for the rights of persons with disabilities.
Nathan said: “In addition to disabled people, many other people will benefit, including senior citizens. We’ve seen posts on social media about how people have started enjoying the facility. This inclusion project should be a great lesson for all of us as it includes and serves a large number of senior citizens as well.”
Several people on social media spoke about the installation of the ramp and welcomed the move. While several said it was a “nice initiative”, another user named Aja wrote: “This is a great move by the government to bring outdoor relaxation to senior citizens and people with other types of ailments.”
Another Facebook user, named Lakshmy Ramakrishnan, wrote about the time she attended a beach event where a temporary ramp for the disabled was built to the beach. “It was so touching to see their happiness as the waves kissed their feet,” she wrote.
However, netizens are also concerned that the bridge’s usability is not limited to people with different abilities. A user named Sam wrote on Facebook: “Great initiative. But I hope the authorities have a system in place to stop the differently abled.”
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