Mr. S.Saravanan, I.A.S. - Joint Commissioner, Works, Greater Chennai Corporation
Mr. Gopinath Mallya - Chief Advisor (O&M), Chennai Metro Rail Limited
Mr. S.A. Selvakumar - General Manager (Operations), Metropolitan Transport Corporation
Mr. Sathish Kumar- Member, Disability Rights Alliance
Ms. Akila Shanmugaraj - Architect & Public Planner, Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority
For immediate release
Chennai, Aug 20, 2026
Even in 2026, travelling independently through Chennai remains difficult for many persons with disabilities and senior citizens. Broken or obstructed footpaths, poor first- and last-mile connectivity, and inaccessible public transport infrastructure can turn an everyday journey into a significant challenge.
This is despite growing recognition that accessible streets are a right, not an optional amenity. In June 2026, the Supreme Court recognised the right to walk on safe and demarcated footpaths as a fundamental right. Universal Design goes further: streets and transport systems that work for persons with disabilities and senior citizens are safer and easier for everyone to use.
To understand how accessible Chennai’s public transport system is in practice, Citizen consumer and civic Action Group (CAG) undertook a year-long study combining surveys, focus group discussions and secondary research. The findings are presented in the report, Moving Without Barriers: Documenting Mobility Barriers Encountered by People with Disabilities in Chennai, which centres the lived experiences of persons with disabilities and senior citizens.
“Lack of accessible mobility should not be seen as isolated incidents of inaccessible transport,” said Divya Arvind, Researcher with CAG’s Sustainable Mobility & Road Safety team. “The cumulative effect is one that impacts education, employment and healthcare.” She pointed out that poor infrastructure often forces people to walk alongside moving vehicles, making independent travel difficult or simply too risky. The study, she said, seeks to translate these lived experiences into evidence that can guide policymakers and transport agencies towards a genuinely inclusive system.
The findings reveal a striking gap between proximity and accessibility. While 66% of respondents live within one kilometre of a public transport stop or station, two-thirds are unable to reach these services safely because of poor pedestrian infrastructure. Nearly 68% encountered blocked or uneven pathways that forced them onto the road, while 41% reported feeling unsafe using pedestrian infrastructure.
Buses and suburban trains were the most commonly used modes, but inaccessible vehicle design, platform gaps, inadequate ramps, poor signage, limited audio-visual announcements and inaccessible bus stops continue to restrict independent travel. Only 4.5% of respondents were completely satisfied with public transport interiors, while more than 61% rated them poorly.
The Chennai Metro emerged as the preferred mode because of its relatively accessible infrastructure and trained staff. However, respondents identified continuing barriers, including problems with accessible station features, locked accessible toilets, limited network coverage and the absence of fare concessions for persons with disabilities.
The report was released in Chennai on 20 August 2026 by Mr A. Saravanan, I.A.S., Joint Commissioner (Works), Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), along with members of a panel representing key transport agencies and disability rights organisations.
Delivering the inaugural address, Mr Saravanan stressed that “accessibility is a right, not a privilege” and described the event as “healthy advocacy for inclusive accessibility”. He outlined plans to improve 80 kilometres of footpaths with tactile and accessible pathways and junctions, upgrade parks and beaches, and introduce improved bus-stop models across the city.
The launch also brought together persons with disabilities and organisations including the Disability Rights Alliance (DRA), National Association for the Blind and Society for Rights of All Women with Disabilities with representatives of GCC, Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC), Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA) and Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL). The discussion focused not only on existing barriers, but on how accessibility can be built systematically into Chennai’s transport infrastructure.
Representatives of the transport agencies outlined measures underway. Ms Akila Shanmugaraj, Architect-Urban Planner, CUMTA, highlighted the Comprehensive Mobility Plan, accessibility-related performance indicators and street-design metrics developed for the Chennai metropolitan area. Mr Gopinath Mallya, Chief Advisor (O&M), CMRL, said the Metro’s long-term objective was to fully comply with harmonised accessibility guidelines, supported by third-party assessments.
For MTC, the transition to low-floor buses is central to improving accessibility. Mr S.A. Selvakumar, General Manager (Operations), said all newly procured buses would be low-floor models, with another 1,000 expected by the end of the year and a longer-term goal of an entirely low-floor city fleet. He also highlighted accessible mini-buses intended to strengthen first- and last-mile connectivity.
Mr Sathish Kumar of DRA emphasised that accessibility needs to be addressed much earlier in the process. Calling for accessibility consultants to be involved in projects, he stressed that accessibility requirements should be incorporated into tenders themselves rather than addressed after infrastructure has been built.
As Chennai expands and modernises its transport network, the report makes clear that accessibility cannot be treated as an addition to infrastructure after the fact. It must be embedded in planning, design, procurement, implementation and maintenance. An inclusive transport system is not simply more convenient: it is essential to enabling people to travel independently and participate equally in education, employment, and healthcare.
Full report available for download now
About CAG
Citizen consumer and civic Action Group (CAG) is a forty year-old non-profit, non-political and professional organisation that works towards protecting citizens' rights in consumer and environmental issues and promoting good governance processes, including transparency, accountability and participatory decision-making.
For further information, contact: Nina S, Senior Researcher, Road Safety & Sustainable Mobility, CAG | 8754415824 | nina.subramani@cag.org.in