Odessa Has Allocated One Billion for Ramps, Elevators, and Public Restrooms

Odesa has decided to extend its program to create a barrier-free urban environment for at least another year. More than 1 billion hryvnias from the municipal budget are earmarked for this purpose.

This was reported by the Center for Public Investigations.

The Executive Committee approved a draft resolution to extend the implementation period of the city’s targeted program and forwarded it to the head of the Odesa City Administration for approval.

Along with extending the program’s implementation period, officials plan to update its program description, adjust the list of measures, and revise resource allocations in accordance with the new implementation period.

The program is scheduled for 2023–2029. The plan is to allocate 1 billion 49.8 million hryvnias from the budget of the Odesa City Territorial Community for its implementation. The largest allocations are planned for 2026 and 2027—243.7 million and 171.9 million hryvnias, respectively—while 71.4 million hryvnias have been allocated for the program’s launch in 2023.

The program aims to create an accessible environment for people with disabilities and other mobility-impaired groups. This involves adapting urban infrastructure, educational and healthcare facilities, and developing barrier-free transportation, digital services, and information accessibility.

The largest portion of the funds—nearly 900 million hryvnias—will be directed toward physical accessibility. Plans include improving access to residential buildings, schools, and hospitals; installing elevators and lifts; renovating inclusive playgrounds; build 24 public restrooms with universal stalls, and repair sidewalks and pedestrian areas.

9.4 million hryvnias have been allocated for information accessibility, and 24.2 million for digital accessibility, primarily to help people with disabilities purchase computer equipment. Another 109.6 million hryvnias will be allocated to the development of public accessibility, specifically to provide prosthetic and orthopedic devices and to purchase rehabilitation equipment. 6.4 million hryvnias have been allocated for educational accessibility.

Last August, the city council found itself on the verge of scrapping the“Barrier-Free Odesa” program due to a scandal surrounding the cost of inclusive restrooms—5.7 million hryvnias each. It was this last item that sparked the most controversy—the plan was to install four automated restrooms in 2025, with a total of 19 to be installed over four years. 

At that time,IntentEditor-in-ChiefValeriy Bolgan, journalistIryna Hryb, and City CouncilmemberOleksandr Slavskyi discusseda 600-million-hryvnia loan, the controversy over the cost of the accessible restrooms, and compliance with court requirements.

Анна Бальчінос