Building Accessible, Safe & Inclusive Indian Cities (BASIIC) – Consultation Report 2021

In 2021, the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), under the BASIIC programme supported by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and FCDO, conducted consultations to gather feedback on inclusive city design in India. The consultations engaged multiple stakeholders to identify policy measures and initiatives that could be integrated into the Smart Cities Mission.

Civis partnered with NIUA to facilitate the feedback process, ensuring diverse inputs from disability officers, civil society organisations, and ULB functionaries across cities such as Bhopal, Visakhapatnam, Ujjain, Gurgaon, and Agartala.

The following recommendations were analysed from the consultation:

• Strengthen accessibility in transportation and mobility systems, including public transport, last-mile connectivity, and pedestrian infrastructure.
• Upgrade public spaces and amenities, such as parks, tourist sites, religious spaces, and public toilets, to ensure universal access.
• Improve access to education, housing, health, and employment facilities to meet the needs of vulnerable groups.
• Address key bottlenecks like lack of funds, trained manpower, and technical knowledge through capacity building and better resource allocation.
• Promote inclusive governance and policy formulation, with meaningful participation of persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.