Local authorities in Kozhikode have called to audit buildings for accessibility violations

Local self-government institutions in Kozhikode district have been directed to identify commercial and residential buildings that do not provide adequate facilities for persons with disabilities and take appropriate action against violations.

Instructions have been issued to the secretaries of all local government institutions to conduct post-occupation audits of the buildings in the wake of growing complaints from various human rights defenders. Although building plans are approved only after facilities such as ramps, wheelchair access, accessible toilets, lifts and dedicated parking spaces are in place, there have been cases where such facilities were either not provided after construction or were later removed for other purposes.

According to officials, such modifications are in violation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016. There have also been complaints that accessibility provisions are not effectively verified before a certificate of occupancy is issued. Post-occupancy audits are to ensure that the facilities required by building regulations are actually available and remain operational.

“The absence of ramps leading to the main entrance, steep or slippery ramps and lack of dedicated toilets for disabled people were highlighted as the main concerns,” says one of the complainants from Chelemba who petitioned the authorities. In several buildings, designated parking spaces are either not available or are located outside the entrance, he adds.

According to the prescribed norms, a minimum of 3% of the parking area should be reserved for persons with disabilities, with each such parking space having a minimum width of 3.6 meters. Accommodation buildings are obliged to provide at least one specially equipped room for every 25 rooms. The standards also require appropriate directional signs and symbols that clearly indicate facilities intended for people with disabilities.

Accessibility audit

There are also requirements to carry out accessibility audits in government offices and other public buildings. Despite campaigns for the accessibility of state offices, some ministries were allegedly negligent in implementing the required measures.

The use of spaces around barrier-free entrances for illegal parking, especially in tourist destinations, has also sparked protests from people with disabilities. They demanded that the police take immediate action against the perpetrators, including imposing heavy fines and initiating legal proceedings.

According to some former building inspectors, inspections in the area have been stepped up in the past, with squads including people with disabilities interested in ensuring accessibility standards are met. Several builders were asked to rebuild the demolished facilities within the Kozhikode Corporation limits, they recalled.

In some cases, structures that were found to be in violation of the provisions were marked as unauthorized structures and their tax liability was doubled according to them. Certificates of occupancy were reissued only after the violations were rectified. According to former officials, both commercial and residential buildings were found among those flagged for violations.

Published – 16 Sep 2026 21:21 IST