Accessibility Gaps in Aviation Infrastructure

Gist The Supreme Court has issued notices to key aviation and security authorities over systemic accessibility barriers faced by millions of passengers with disabilities in India's aviation sector. The petition highlighted severe physical, digital, and systemic exclusions, ranging from a lack of screen-reader-friendly apps to the forced use of wheelchairs for visually impaired travelers. For a civil services aspirant, this development is crucial as it highlights the stark implementation gap between the statutory rights of persons with disabilities and the reality of modern, rapidly growing infrastructure projects. Background India operates as the third largest aviation market globally, handling over 350 million passengers annually, yet its transport infrastructure frequently fails to accommodate the specific needs of Persons with Disabilities PwDs . While regulatory bodies like the Directorate General of Civil Aviation DGCA are responsible for framing passenger facilitation rules, enforcement on the ground has historically remained weak and fragmented. The recent modernization of aviation infrastructure—such as the implementation of "silent airports" which eliminate public address announcements to reduce noise and biometric boarding—has inadvertently introduced new layers of exclusion for passengers requiring…