20.07.2016 - 11:28

Guest Lecture Gaurav Raheja

Accessibility Planning for Transport Terminals: Inclusive Perspectives from India. Date: Wed, July 20, 2016, 10:00h Venue: IN-EAST School, Geibelstr. 41, Room SG 183

The IN-EAST School of Advanced Studies is pleased to announce that Gaurav Raheja, Associate Professor, Department of Architecture & Planning,Joint Faculty, Centre for Excellence in Transportation Systems, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee, India is currently visiting the IN-EAST School of Advanced Studies.

Abstract
This presentation shall bring to light a perspective on accessibility planning and interventions for people with disabilities in major transit terminals in urban context. It is founded with a larger aim of including diversitiy of mobility perspectives in these transport terminals including infrastructure, information and services. Revisiting and interpreting the concepts of disability and accessibility, it intends to share experiences from live consultancy projects of conducting accessibility audits of Indira Gandhi International Airport (Terminal – 3), New Delhi and New Delhi Railway Station as a key access consultant. The basic philosophy of accessibility as an after thought and the changing meaning of mobility with human and urban perspectives becomes part of the discussions. It shares narratives of on ground realities, with governmental policy frameworks in Indian context as an experience of making urban mobility seamless, accessible and inclusive for all. It is most likely that an extended discussion becomes valid and relevant to a perspective of evaluating urban spaces and transit systems for accessbility planning and human inclusion as a broader subject in ideating smart urban futures.

About
Dr. Gaurav Raheja is an Associate Professor of Architecture at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Roorkee with over 10 years of teaching and research experience. His key area of research interest includes accessibility planning, universal design, inclusive systems, human-space studies and visual methods of research. He is a recipient of the Mphasis Universal Design Award in 2010, conferred by NCPEDP, India. He is currently visiting Germany as a DAAD Faculty Exchange Scholar 2016 as Visiting Professor in collaboration with T U Darmstadt, TU Berlin and University of Duisburg-Essen.

He serves as an Expert Member in various national committees in Ministry of Urban Development and Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Govt. of India. Dr. Raheja is one of the co-authors of the Universal Design India Principles, copyrighted and released in 2011. He is a keyconsultant to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Govt. of India for developing accessibility plans for some of the prestigious projects including Prime Minister’s Office, New Delhi Airport, New Delhi Railway Station, etc. His doctoral research cited in World Disability Report 2011, published by WHO & World Bank, offers an insight into creation of Enabling Rural Built Environments using Universal Design approach.
He carries avid interest in visual methods of urban studies, explorations, photo narratives, human-space observations and design pedagogy. Also, he is currently the manager of ‘Anushruti’, a social initiative of IIT Roorkee for educating children with hearing impairments.