Bhubaneswar: The government will provide barrier-free access to persons with disabilities at all buildings and recreational facilities in the city.

Earlier, the facility was provided only at a few major government buildings and recreational facilities. That decision has now been amended to make all buildings and facilities accessible for persons with disabilities.

The department of social security and empowerment of persons with disabilities on March 12 issued a notification in this regard and circulated it among government agencies.

"Our notification states that all buildings, including guest houses, police stations, fire stations and jails are to be made fully accessible for persons with disabilities," said a department official.

He said the government departments concerned would put up adequate infrastructure for the disabled at their own cost and submit a compliance report to the department by December.

The initiative is part of the Centre's Accessible India campaign that has asked the local authorities to identify and put up infrastructure at public places to provide easy access to differently-abled persons. The infrastructure will be put up based on need and footfall.

The state government had identified 10 major places for the purpose in February 2017. It was revised to 21 later in the same year. "It is a good move to provide infrastructure for persons with disabilities," said Amit Bohidar, a person with hearing impairment.

Sources said all the places will have separate facilities for people using wheelchairs and crutches. The focus will also be on people with hearing and sight impairment. The new national building code of the Centre also puts special stress on disabled-friendly infrastructure in all buildings.