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India commits massive sums to its transportation infrastructure. The national transportation infrastructure pipeline between 2020 and 2025 totals $574 billion, most of which targets roads and railways. The demographic profile of transport network users is aging. Within the next three decades, it is projected that the population of Indians over the age of 60 will exceed 300 million, accounting for nearly one in five persons living in the county.
The Current State of Affairs
Disability and chronic morbidity among India’s elderly have been increasing substantially in recent years. It is thus important that transport facilities and services adhere to universal design standards in order to accommodate a broad range of users.
Examples of universal design features include wide walkways, low-floor buses, smooth walking surfaces, and automatic door openers in public transportation vehicles. Universal design should provide seamless mobility options from origin to destination for the greatest possible range of potential users, including the elderly. It should consider obstacles in buildings, transportation terminals, footpath, roads and vehicles. Universal design also requires consideration of mobility aids, such as canes, walkers, and guide dogs.
