In a first, the government has come up with a unique initiative to assist the vision impaired pedestrians in the smart city of Srinagar by constructing tactile paving in the commercial hub Lal Chowk.

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The tactile paving has been used at Polo View market and other places in Srinagar Lal Chowk area where the walking space has been made available for the people.

Abrar Ahmad, who is a visually impaired person, while talking to Asian News Hub (ANH), said that it was the long pending demand of visually impaired as it helps them to walk on the roadsides without any support.

“It is a great initiative and should be made available in all the districts. Besides the poles on the roadsides should also be removed for the wellbeing of the visually impaired,” Ahmad said.

A local youth also said that the tactile paving was being witnessed at Airports and other related places only, but for the first time, such an initiative has been taken for the visually impaired at the markets and roads as well.

“The tactile paving has been used in Srinagar wherever the works under smart city have taken place. It is a good initiative to assist the visually impaired people,” he said.

Srinagar Smart City Limited (SSCL) CEO, said, that the tactile paving has been used at multiple places in Lal Chowk. “Wherever the walking spaces have been made available, the tactile paving has been used to assist the visually impaired person,” he said.

“It guides the visually impaired to walk on the roadside. It has been used every place where they have made walking spaces on the footpaths,” he said.