2010, Accessibility Research on Comparative Analysis of Building Bye-Laws of various states of India: It is found that there are various codes, guidelines, manuals and standards issued by various Central & State Ministeries and agencies for built environment. These documents were outdated, need revision and lead to multiplicity in adhereing to standards by the implementing agencies and stakeholders. Samarthyam has conducted a research study on building bye-laws of several states of India and is assisting MoUD in its endeavor to amend and frame common guidelines for building regulations of respective State Governments to amend their building bylaws so as to include access standards while constructing new buildings.
- 2009, “Research study on IRC: 103-1988” : Guidelines for Pedestrian Facilities for Indian Road Congress to include design standards for ‘Pedestrian Safety and Accessibility’ for persons with diverse disabilities
- 2008, “Research study on Right of Way” for persons with disabilities in 1.5 km radius of National Trust Office in Connaught Place: The study aims at improved ability to deal with the challenges of the urban design environment where the greatest concentrations of vulnerable road users are found. It will be of immense use to transportation professionals and planners, researchers and academicians, stake holders and service providers in analyzing and reviewing approaches for safe and equitable usage by all sections of the society. It will also assist NGOs, DPOs and user groups to advocate for universal design in urban street infrastructure, road crossings and other public facilities.
- 2007, “Research & Design for making of Braille Registration plates and Audio Meters in Auto Rickshaws”: A “Talking Meter” for the Auto Rickshaws/ Taxis has been innovated to assist persons with vision impairment and low vision to hear the fare of the distance travelled. Also Braille Plates of registration numbers of the Auto Rickshaw/Taxis are developed to be put on these public vehicles so as the persons with vision impairment will be able to read out the same. The Delhi Transport Department has agreed to put Braille plates in the permit conditions and audio meters prototype developed by Samarthyam.
- 2006, “Research study on the Road Safety Aspects for persons with disabilities and implementation strategies”: for 1 km NDMC area, Central Delhi. The access recommendations proposed by Samarthyam are being implemented by NDMC.
- 2006, “Promotion of user-friendly Public Transport Systems (Bus & Bus Shelters) in Delhi”: During the course of research study on accessibility of buses and Bus Q Shelters (BQS), Samarthyam had made a plan of accessible BQS and a prototype was constructed at Hauz Khas Terminal, New Delhi.
- 2005, “Promotion of user-friendly Public Transport Systems (Bus & bus shelters) in India”: Samarthyam conducted a Research Study to provide user groups’ perspective on bus shelters, Low Floor Buses (LFB) and upcoming Bus Rapid Transit System introduced by the Delhi Government with the objective to evaluate the existing infrastructure, to assess and document the present situation and to provide concrete direction involving the user groups on how to make public transport user friendly.
- 2005, “Accessibility of Indian Railways”: Includes users’ group perspective; facilities check of stations, reservation centre and compartment for disabled and recommendations for making Railways accessible. Low cost, tried and tested designs from developing countries and user perspective (disabled persons) and recommendations were forwarded to Research Design Standards Organization (RDSO), Rail Coach Factory (RCF), Ministry of Railways and other concerned departments. Delhi High Court ordered Northern Railways to follow the recommendations of the research study to make all station facilities universally accessible.
