The city has completed 60 percent of the work scheduled this year to remove barriers for the disabled, government officials announced yesterday.
The city will spend 144 million yuan (US$17.35 million) this year to build new facilities for the disabled and renovate old buildings.
Some 200 kilometers of sidewalks for the blind have been built and more than 4,000 wheelchair ramps have been added to public venues like office buildings, post offices, banks and hospitals so far this year, making life much easier for disabled people, according to the government.
"The city's barrier-free construction is important to the World Expo 2010 and 2007 Special Olympics to be held in Shanghai," the city's Vice Mayor Zhou Taitong said yesterday.
In Luwan District, many non-barrier facilities have been built in residential complexes and even individual homes.
"Now we have more than 500 wheelchair ramps and sidewalks for blind covering Huaihai Road M., Chongqing Road S. and Xujiahui Road in our district," said a district official.