Surat Post Office Face Accessibility Crisis: Elderly forced to climb stairs !

Surat | Gujarat — Bhavendu Patel, a retired government clerk, is suffering from severe knee pain and it is difficult for him to climb stairs. But, when he has to visit the post office located in Adajan, which is nearby his residence, he has no other option but to climb the stairs to reach the post-office located on the first floor. It takes about 15 minutes for him to climb the stairs. 

Bhavendu is not an isolated case. Tens of hundreds of people visiting this post-office in the Adajan area have to undergo the same ordeal every day. In the absence of elevators or escalators, the residents have to take the stairs to reach the post-office on the first floor for their important work in the department. 

Several post offices, including one recently highlighted on social media, are operating from first-floor premises without basic facilities such as ramps or lifts, making access extremely difficult for persons with disabilities and senior citizens.

The issue came into focus after a concerned citizen raised the matter on social media platform X, tagging key authorities including Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the India Post, and the Prime Minister’s Office. The complaint highlighted that a post office in Surat is located on the first floor without any ramp or lift facility, forcing elderly citizens and persons with disabilities to “climb a mountain” just to access basic postal services.

The post further questioned the contradiction between policy-level commitments to support differently-abled citizens and the lack of on-ground implementation. “We talk big about helping handicapped citizens, but the reality is painful,” the citizen wrote, pointing out that such infrastructure is not only inconvenient but also discriminatory.

Responding to the concern, India Post acknowledged the issue. In an official reply, the department stated that the process of relocating the concerned post office has already been initiated. “A suitable building has not yet been identified. However, efforts are ongoing, and once finalized, the office will be shifted to a ground-floor location or a more accessible facility,” the response read.

Citizens have now begun questioning how many such post offices exist across Surat and who is accountable for approving premises that do not meet basic accessibility norms.

Surat, often showcased as a model smart city in Gujarat, is expected to adhere to modern urban standards, including universal accessibility. The absence of ramps, lifts, and barrier-free access in essential public service centers such as post offices raises concerns about compliance with accessibility guidelines and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act.