Japan to promote whole-area barrier-free development

August 13, 2017

TOKYO- Japan's infrastructure ministry plans to revise the law promoting the development of barrier-free environments, in order to offer whole-area infrastructure that is friendly to the elderly and people with disabilities, according to informed sources.

The ministry is discussing ways to encourage municipal governments to map out plans to develop barrier-free infrastructure on a priority basis in areas that host government offices and commercial facilities used regularly by such people.

It plans to reflect the results of the discussions in a bill to revise the law that will be submitted to the ordinary session of parliament next year at the earliest, the sources said.

Under the current law, established in 2006 amid the aging of Japanese society, new and renovated railway stations, other buildings and roads are required to meet barrier-free standards.

The ministry plans to revise the law due to the further aging of the population and in view of a large number of foreigners expected to visit Japan for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, the sources said.

The law allows municipalities to draw up basic plans for priority areas to promote barrier-free infrastructure development in an integrated manner. Jiji Press