An Almaty resident showed that mothers with strollers are forced to carry them up the stairs on Republic Square by hand due to an inconvenient ramp. People with limited mobility will not be able to climb it at all. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
The problem on the square
An Almaty woman posted the situation on Republic Square on social media. She addressed the akimat: "I have one question for the akimat: how are people with limited mobility supposed to move around here? The reconstruction of the square lasted about four months (in reality much longer)," the young woman wrote.
She clarified: on each section of the stairs above the ramp, a small step was installed. This means that a person in a wheelchair will hit it while going up and simply will not be able to climb independently. Mothers with strollers simply carry them up the stairs by hand. In addition, part of the granite ramp is already broken.
"All over the world they have already come up with combined ascents, where part of the stairs is a smoothed ascent," one user wrote.
The akimat's response
The thread was commented on by the Department for the Development of Public Spaces. Officials admitted that the stairs near the fountains require repair. Despite the fact that the reconstruction of the square is officially completed, the contractor continues certain works on it.
"The existing granite surface will be replaced, and the ramps will be restored and improved to ensure convenient and safe access for pedestrians, including citizens with limited mobility. These elements have not undergone comprehensive repair for a long time, and therefore their restoration is provided for within the framework of the current improvement works," the department's response states.
Financial data
Let us add that 5.6 billion tenge was spent on the reconstruction of the fountains on Republic Square. Probably, the repair of the stairs near them was not included in this amount.
Earlier, Kursiv LifeStyle showed how the main square of Almaty has changed.