69 ramps planned for PJ Old Town to improve access

Rajiv (background) says ramps will also be built in commercial areas of sections 8, 14 and 17.

TO improve accessibility in the Old Town area, Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) is building 69 ramps in its commercial space.

The main aim of the project was to make Petaling Jaya barrier-free, said Bukit Gasing assemblyman Rajiv Rishyakaran, who was re-elected in the Aug 12 state polls.

“This caters not only to people with disabilities but mothers with prams, shopping trolley users and the elderly.”

He said new developments such as hotels and malls in PJ would have to include ramps in their building plans.

“The older shoplots will have to be retrofitted.”

He said PJ Old Town was the third area to have ramps built at its commercial area after Section 52 and Section 11.

He said while there were parking spaces for the disabled, wheelchair users had been unable to reach most shoplots because the existing infrastructure was not seamless.

“The ramps are being built according to specific gradients. It cannot be too steep.

“I feel strongly about making things more accessible for all members of society,” Rajiv said.

“Commercial areas in Section 8, Section 17 and Section 14 will have these too.”

He said the 69 ramps for PJ Old Town would cost RM220,000. — By AIDA AHMAD