Research and development of national codes and guidelines with access standards is the focus area of Samarthyam. These codes/ guidelines are adopted by concerned ministries and departments of Government of India and UN agencies for reference and use by architects, engineers, planners and designers, etc. Contact Samarthyam for action oriented research studies and projects to make the world safe and friendly.

For whom

Academic institutions, CSOs, government and non-government organizations, UN agencies, professionals, and service providers, etc.

Our Research Projects

Samarthyam has spearheaded the inclusion of accessibility standards in the national guidelines and codes through research.

Disability inclusive design elements Toolkit and Handbook for accessible schools have been developed and incorporated in four major guidelines and codes of Government of India. Our research work is as follows:

• 2016-2020, Research study on IRC Codes: Universal Accessibility Manual on Urban Roads & Streets, Urban Roads Manual, BRT Manual, Code on Signages, Code on Landscape in Urban areas, etc.
• 2016, Harmonized Guidelines on Space Standards for Universal Design for Persons with Disabilities and Elderly, Ministry of Urban Development (currently known as Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs), Govt. of India
• 2016, National Building Code, Bureau of Indian Standards, Govt. of India
• 2015, Research on Urban Transportation in India Cities
  Samarthyam’s implementation strategies to make public transportation system universally accessible are published in Compendium of Good Practices, Urban Transportation in India Cities, published by National Institute of Urban Affairs.
  • Access Audits of Delhi Metro Infrastructure as a part of Promotion of user-friendly Public Transport Systems in Delhi- Implementation Strategies
  • Access Audits of Bus & Bus Shelters as a part of Promotion of user-friendly PT systems in Delhi- Implementation Strategies. Read more
• 2014-15, Universal Accessibility in Walkability, Non Motorised Vehicles and Public Transport Infrastructure Guidelines formulation on sustainable cities with focus on “Mobility Without Barriers: on foot, by non-motorised vehicles and optimum usage of public transport”. Supported by ClimateWorks Foundation and Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation adopted by Ministry of Roads, Transport and Highways, Govt. of India
• 2013, WASH Facilities for Persons with Disabilities in Jharkhand, India “Right to Sanitation” is one of the campaigns of Samarthyam, a pioneering effort in India to provide accessible WASH facilities for persons with disabilities, which are gender sensitive, age and disable friendly. Several researches are conducted in Asia Pacific, which highlights barriers and access solution with indigenous material usage in rural, semi-urban and urban areas. Individual household toilets, community and school toilets and toilets in public spaces can be easily modified/ retrofitted and made accessible for use by not only persons with disabilities. State of Jharkhand was selected for a similar study in 2013.
• 2011-2013, Research study on Anthropometrics of Mobility Aid Users: Indian perspective The study documents the multiple reaches, dimensions and visual access required in formulating definitive space standards for use of different kinds of tri-cycles, wheelchairs, crutches, walkers and other non-traditional mobility aids found extensively in India. Research is supported by DFID and VSO.
• 2010-2012, Research study on Accessible Building Bye-Laws to have unified building regulations for all public buildings and spaces in India It is found that there are various codes, guidelines, manuals and standards issued by various Central & State Ministries and agencies for built environment. These documents are outdated, need revision and lead to multiplicity in adhering to standards by the implementing agencies and stakeholders. Under the study, Samarthyam is reviewing, analyze, harmonies and update all the above into a comprehensive single document and present the same to Government of India for incorporation and making it mandatory in Model Building Bye-Laws. Study is supported by DFID and VSO.
• 2009-2012, Research study on IRC Code: 103: 2012, Guidelines for Pedestrian Facilities: Samarthyam is working with Indian Roads Congress (IRC) to include access needs of pedestrians with disabilities in their codes and Guidelines, so that these can be implemented by the architects and engineers in the planning stage itself. Study was supported by National Trust, DFID and VSO. IRC 103: 2012 is the first national code with inclusive mobility and pedestrian guidelines of India and is used for roads, highways and city streets planning and retrofitting projects. The code is published by India Roads Congress.
• 2008, “Research study on Right of Way” for persons with disabilities in 1.5 km radius of National Trust Office in Connaught Place: The study aims at improved ability to deal with the challenges of the urban design environment where the greatest concentrations of vulnerable road users are found. It will be of immense use to transportation professionals and planners, researchers and academicians, stake holders and service providers in analyzing and reviewing approaches for safe and equitable usage by all sections of the society. It will also assist NGOs, DPOs and user groups to advocate for universal design in urban street infrastructure, road crossings and other public facilities.
• 2007, “Research & Design for making of Braille Registration plates and Audio Meters in Auto Rickshaws”: A “Talking Meter” for the Auto Rickshaws/ Taxis has been innovated to assist persons with vision impairment and low vision to hear the fare of the distance travelled. Also Braille Plates of registration numbers of the Auto Rickshaw/Taxis are developed to be put on these public vehicles so as the persons with vision impairment will be able to read out the same. The Delhi Transport Department has agreed to put Braille plates in the permit conditions and audio meters prototype developed by Samarthyam.
• 2006, “Research study on the Road Safety Aspects for persons with disabilities and implementation strategies”: For 1 km NDMC area in Central Delhi research on raod safety aspects of persons with disabilities, children and senior citizens was conducted. The access audit and safety recommendations proposed by Samarthyam have been implemented by New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), Govt. of NCT Delhi
• 2005, “Promotion of user-friendly Public Transport Systems (Bus & bus shelters) in India”: Samarthyam conducted a Research Study to provide user groups’ perspective on bus shelters, Low Floor Buses (LFB) and upcoming Bus Rapid Transit System introduced by the Delhi Government with the objective to evaluate the existing infrastructure, to assess and document the present situation and to provide concrete direction involving the user groups on how to make public transport user friendly.
• 2005, “Accessibility of Indian Railways”: Includes users’ group perspective; facilities check of stations, reservation centre and compartment for disabled and recommendations for making Railways accessible. Low cost, tried and tested designs from developing countries and user perspective (disabled persons) and recommendations were forwarded to Research Design Standards Organization (RDSO), Rail Coach Factory (RCF), Ministry of Railways and other concerned departments.

Access our Publications and Guidelines: Our Publications: Read more