Diethono Nakhro cites Supreme Court ruling, RPwD Act and Nagaland govt notification seeking accessible public transport
Concerns have been raised over whether the 43 new buses being procured for the Nagaland State Transport (NST) fleet will comply with mandatory accessibility standards for persons with disabilities, with disability rights advocate Diethono Nakhro urging the state government to ensure the vehicles are fully accessible before being inducted into service.
In a representation addressed to Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, Nakhro welcomed the Nagaland government’s recent agreement with
Tata Motors for procurement of 43 NST buses, calling it a major step toward improving public transport services in the state. However, she stressed that accessibility must be treated as a legal obligation and not merely as a welfare measure.
The representation cited provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act 2016, the Harmonised Guidelines and Standards for Universal Accessibility in India 2021, and a Supreme Court judgment in Rajive Raturi vs Union of India, which directed governments to ensure public transport systems are made accessible to persons with disabilities.
Quoting the judgment, Nakhro stated that Section 41 of the RPwD Act mandates comprehensive accessibility in all modes of transport, including buses, and places responsibility on both the Centre and states to ensure government buses are disability-friendly.
The representation also referred to a February 5, 2019 notification issued by the Nagaland Transport Department under the RPwD Act, which stated that no new public transport vehicle should be registered unless it conforms to accessibility standards enabling persons with disabilities to travel comfortably.
According to the representation, the Harmonised Guidelines prescribe accessibility features such as low-floor buses, ramps or hydraulic lifts, wheelchair spaces, handrails, accessible signage, Braille-enabled buzzers, and visual route display systems.
Nakhro further stated that accessibility concerns are often overlooked in Nagaland on the grounds of the state’s hilly terrain and poor road conditions. While acknowledging the geographical challenges, she argued that difficult terrain cannot become a justification for exclusion of persons with disabilities from public transport services.
“The burden of finding solutions cannot be placed upon persons with disabilities,” the representation stated, while urging the government to explore alternative accessibility solutions wherever standard low-floor buses may not be feasible.
Among the demands made in the representation were ensuring all 43 buses comply with accessibility norms, incorporation of ramps or lifts and wheelchair spaces, installation of accessible information systems, consultation with persons with disabilities before finalisation of procurement, and creation of an inspection mechanism to certify accessibility compliance before the buses are put into service.
The representation also recalled directions reportedly issued during suo motu proceedings before the SCPD Court in 2024, which asked the Nagaland State Transport Department to implement the Harmonised Guidelines 2021 in all newly procured buses.
Calling the NST fleet expansion a “historic opportunity,” Nakhro said the initiative could help Nagaland move towards a more inclusive public transport system that upholds the dignity and mobility rights of all citizens.
