MOBILITY FOR ALL 2006 :

NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORTATION

17th & 18th March, 2006. IIT Delhi.

ACCESS & MOBILITY FOR THE

MOBILITY IMPAIRED

an emphasis on

BARRIER FREE TOURISM

Amudha Rathinam
Final Year, Masters in Planning
School of Architecture & Planning,
Anna University,
Chennai 600025

amudha.rathinam@gmail.com
 MOBILITY FOR ALL 2006

1.0 BARRIER FREE TOURISM

Often referred to as the world’s largest growth industry, tourism is being

undertaken by increasing numbers of people travelling to more countries and
regions of the world. Its impacts are multi-faceted, with social, cultural,
political and environmental implications as well as economic.
The tourism industry has focused increasingly on segmentation as a
way to provide better service to specific tourist groups who are differentiated
by demographic and psychographic characteristics. As western populations
age, “grey tourism” (also called the seniors market) has emerged as a major
new market segment. This was brought about through the ageing of the
generation who has historically led market shifts during the latter part of the
twentieth century.
Closely linked to the needs of the seniors market are People With Disabilities
(PWD). The travel needs of this group have been categorized as Barrier-Free
Tourism (BFT). BFT offers a new opportunity for segmentation that merges
the access requirements of the seniors and disability markets.

In particular, providing information as well as presenting, promoting and

marketing easy access tourism facilities can provide destinations with a
greater competitive advantage for attracting these growing niche markets.

….” The accounting firm of Touche Ross, Europe estimated that every trip by a
person with a disability attracts 0.5 companions. The European tourism market
includes some 36 million people with limited mobility who generate 630 million in
overnight stays…” (Eduardo Alvarez, Pathways to Accessibility )

Disability-based research has tended to focus on human rights issues, but it is

also important to demonstrate that developing the market segment for BFT
has an underlying economic logic. This stresses a point that “inclusion” leads
to economic inclusion too. The country is forgetting to tap one segment of the
productive citizens – who can be potential consumers., Its high time to
undertake a research into travel patterns or the scope of the travel market for
barrier-free tourism that would make experiences accessible to people with
disabilities.

ACCESS & MOBILITY for the MOBILITY IMPAIRED – an emphasis on BARRIER FREE TOURISM : AMUDHA RATHINAM
 MOBILITY FOR ALL 2006

2.0 MAHABALIPURAM alias MAMALLAPURAM

Globally renowned for its ancient cultural and natural treasures of the
exceptional value, Mamallapuram group monuments draw tourists from both
our country and aboard by its miles of beach and rock-cut architecture.
Mamallapuram which is situated about 60 kms south of Chennai on the Bay of
Bengal coastline and can be reached from Chennai mainly by road along the
sea coast via., the East Coast Road and also by Old Mamallapuram road.

2.1 TOURIST INTEREST

Mamallapuram was the second capital of the Pallava kings of

Kancheepuram, 60 kms from Chennai on the Bay of Bengal. The Sea-coast
from the outskirts of Chennai to Mamallapuram is one of the finest beaches in
the world and has vast potential to develop as a major tourist and holiday
resort. Mamallapuram's attractions are not merely confined to the immortal art
works of the greatest Pallava Kings. A beautiful beach girdled by Casuarina
groves also equally attract the tourists. One can have a pleasant bath in the
warm blue sea, stroll on the golden sands, watch the beautiful glory of the rise
of the sun and the moon and so on.

Mamallapuram stands as a centre of art and as a testimonial to early

Dravidian style of temple architecture. The tiny sea - side village of
Mahabalipuram, is set in a boulder - strewn landscape between the beach
and the canal.
The Monumental zone is mainly divided into :
• MukundaNarayan temple
• Arjuna’s Pennance
• Shore Temple and
• Rathas
The Arjuna’s Pennance area alone constitutes around 25 monuments.

ACCESS & MOBILITY for the MOBILITY IMPAIRED – an emphasis on BARRIER FREE TOURISM : AMUDHA RATHINAM
 MOBILITY FOR ALL 2006

SHORE TEMPLE THE FIVE RATHAS ARJUNA’S PENNANCE

Apart from the historic monuments of Mamallapuram additional recreation

facilities to attract more tourist, around Mamallapuram , they are.
a. Golden Beach – an amusement park
b. M.G.M – an amusement park
c. Dakshina chitra – an artist village
d. Muttukkadu – a back water boating yard by TTDC
e. Kovalam – a pilgrim centre and seaside resort.
f. Thiruvidandai – a pilgrim centre
g. Crocodile Farm – a reptile park at Nemili
h. Tiger's cave – a monument of Pallava period
i. Thirukkalukundram – a pilgrim centre
j. Vedanthangal – a bird Sanctuary

3.0 ACCESS

Disability is not an individual’s pathology… it’s a phase which anyone might

face in their long span of life… a senior citizen, a pregnant woman, a man
carrying a child or luggage , a temporarily infirm person – anyone would face
access problems; what it all requires is This town, just like any other town
poses Access problems to even the able – bodied. This document attempts
the Access issues faced by such focus group : like the Senior Citizens ,
Locomotor Disabled & the Visually Challenged in Mamallapuram & how a
place of such heritage value could be made open to the so far excluded
population.

ACCESS & MOBILITY for the MOBILITY IMPAIRED – an emphasis on BARRIER FREE TOURISM : AMUDHA RATHINAM
 MOBILITY FOR ALL 2006

3.1 BARRIERS AT TOWN LEVEL

The ACCESS issues start at the very entrance of the town. The main means
of connectivity of the town is by road – especially after ECR is into picture,
most of the buses bypass MAMALLAPURAM – very few buses get inside the
town. Most of the tourist who visit there are dependant on their own personal
mode of transport.
Walking inside MAMALLAPURAM is one thing which would handicap even a
able – bodied person. There is no proper linkage between the monuments:
Shore Temple, the Rathas and the Arjuna’s Pennance. The Location of
markets along Kovalam road poses a chaos condition right in the approach
road to the city. Heavy traffic mixed with street shopping poses threat to the
pedestrians. Fig. 3.1 shows the tourist circuit within the town and the overall
issues identified at a town level.
Proper signage system is not followed inside the town. A Visually challenged
person might for sure get mis - oriented in the Chaos created near the entry of
the town. The town as such faces Parking problems especially near the
Rathas & Arjuna’s Pennance. There is a Public Toilet but not an Accessible
One. There are no Audio Signages or Tactile Boards or Guiding Tracks for the
Visually Challenged.

ACCESS & MOBILITY for the MOBILITY IMPAIRED – an emphasis on BARRIER FREE TOURISM : AMUDHA RATHINAM
 MOBILITY FOR ALL 2006

Fig : 3.1 : TOURIST CIRCUIT WITHIN THE TOWN

ACCESS & MOBILITY for the MOBILITY IMPAIRED – an emphasis on BARRIER FREE TOURISM : AMUDHA RATHINAM
 MOBILITY FOR ALL 2006

3.2 BARRIERS AT MONUMENT LEVEL

3.2.1 SHORE TEMPLE

DISTANCE:
The Walking distance from the bus stand to the shore temple is more – that
wouldnt facilitate the SENIOR CITIZENS or PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED.
PARKING
Though there’s a separate Parking Area for the Shore temple – the distance
from the Parking Area to the Shore temple is more.
BEACH SAND
Approach to the Shore Temple has a paved way - so the wheel chairs can
move, but beyond a point we have to get into the beach sand - which wouldnt
let wheelchairs move and even people with Crutches would face difficulty
walking in the sand.

ACCESS & MOBILITY for the MOBILITY IMPAIRED – an emphasis on BARRIER FREE TOURISM : AMUDHA RATHINAM
 MOBILITY FOR ALL 2006

3.2.2 THE FIVE RATHAS

LEVELS

Rathas are situated at a level much lower than the road level – but still theres
not any kind of provision made for the Wheel Chair users are the Senior
Citizens.

IMAGE OF THE RATHAS

TACTILE SIGNBOARDS:
Tactile Sign boards & Guarding Blocks would help visually challenged people
explore the unknown. Audio Signages could be used as an ORIENTATION
TOOL. Even Audio guides can be given - not only for the visually challenged ,
even for the other tourists which might help in appreciating the art better.
Remote Infrared Auditory Signages - which would give location based
auditory cues & spatial direction information can be installed.

Fig : 3.2: Conceptual Sketch showing the Installation of RIAS in Shore

Temple.
3.2.3 THE ARJUNAS PENNANCE

This One particular area has around 25 places of interest. The most famous
being the Krishna’s butter ball & the light house , apart from the Arjuna’s

ACCESS & MOBILITY for the MOBILITY IMPAIRED – an emphasis on BARRIER FREE TOURISM : AMUDHA RATHINAM
 MOBILITY FOR ALL 2006

Penance – The exquisitely sculpted scene is an enormous relief made on two

huge boulders. The cleft in the rock depicts the descent of River Ganga,
brought to earth by King Bhagiratha to redeem the cursed souls of his
ancestors.
One of the biggest open-air rock canvases in the world, this bas-relief is 31m
long and 9m high. The surface of the rock has detailed carvings, showing the
most endearing and natural renditions of animals.

The terrain makes it non – disabled friendly. A little care on the landscaping
and guardrails , a guidance track and Signages would definitely make it more
Accessible.

Apart from access at Monument level, the town in general lacks STREET
FURNTURES, the rocky art themselves could be converted into such resting
stones. The Visually challenged just cant see – but there’s enough feast for
them to touch and feel the flawless proportions of the dravidian sculptures. An
audio guidance will help them know the forgotten history and at the same time
feel it on – shore. A small battery operated vehicle taking the senior citizens
and locomotor disabled around the town and an accessible track which moves
by means of a conveyor belt to move around the rocky art terrain – could be
just a small start for their RIGHT TO RECREATION..

ACCESS & MOBILITY for the MOBILITY IMPAIRED – an emphasis on BARRIER FREE TOURISM : AMUDHA RATHINAM