Interpreting Universal Mobility in the Footpaths of Urban India Based on Experts’ Opinion

Gaurab Das Mahapatra (), Suguru Mori and Rie Nomura
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Gaurab Das Mahapatra: Laboratory of Architectural Planning (N216, Engineering Faculty), Division of Architectural and Structural Design, Hokkaido University, Kita 13-Jo, Nishi 8-Chome, Sapporo 060-8628, Hokkaido, Japan
Suguru Mori: Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-8628, Hokkaido, Japan
Rie Nomura: Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-8628, Hokkaido, Japan

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 4, 1-20

Abstract: In this research, expert opinions on universal mobility in the footpaths of urban India have been critically appraised. Universal mobility (as a component of universal design) is still a largely ignored urban parameter in India despite an increase of 732.20% in the specially-abled and 105.25% in the elderly between 1911 and 2011. A total of 257 experts from the field of architecture and planning hailing from 66 cities in India were interviewed for this research. It was found that despite nationally implemented universal design guidelines, footpaths in 42.8% of the cities do not have universal mobility. In total, 74.7% of the respondents identify the dimension of the footpath as the most important factor for implementing universal mobility. The results of this study indicate the importance of universal design in improving the quality of life in Indian cities, and how urban local bodies can play a significant role in the process by using Public Private Partnership (hereafter, PPP) models and a new accessibility audit checklist.

Keywords: universal mobility; footpath; specially-abled; elderly; expert opinion; urban India (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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