The law has to be implemented," said the judges. Advocate Abha Singh said the Development Control Regulations and other laws (see box) make it mandatory for public and commercial buildings to be disabled-friendly. The disabilities Act, in fact, empowers civic authorities to deny completion certificates to establishments if they fail to provide such facilities.

"Establishments in Mumbai have been issued completion certificates and are allowed to function despite not having ramps or accessible bathrooms," she said.

The Election Commission said it will soon issue braille voter identity cards to visually-challenged electors across the country. Chief Election Commissioner O P Rawat said the commission has decided to establish auxiliary polling stations during elections for the people with disabilities.

BENGALURU: How can technology in the conventional white stick, used by the visually-challenged, help them cross the road more safely? Can agar-agar, a food thickening agent, substitute gelatin as capsule cover? Can a noise pollution measuring device be made at home? These are just a few of the solutions 11-13 year old children from different schools in the city worked on at a recent workshop held at the Advanced Learning Centres (ALCs) set up by National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS).