Pune local guides gathered at the Science Park on 4th February 2024 for an accessibility check combined with a meet and greet session.
This was my 46th meetup overall and 23rd in Pune. The initial 22 meetups were in Delhi - most of them were solo.
This meetup was originally scheduled for 26th January but was postponed to 4th February since Ketan Kangankar was enthusiastic about hosting his first meetup.
Highlights:
- 7 attendees joined in person
- 8 local guides joined online via Google Meet.
- Total duration was 4 hours.
- We checked 12 accessibility points in the Science Park.
- 2 local guides joined a meetup for the first time.
- The Puneri Local Gudie badge/pin was inaugurated and distributed.
- The Local Guides Stamp was used.
- Gifts like transparent cards were shared.
The main entrance was neatly leveled with the street and hence accessible.
The parking space for 2-wheelers and 4-wheelers is sprawling and accessible too.
The main building of the Science Park has a ramp on the front for accessibility.
There are small and big ramps to access smaller portions like the gift shop.
Huge ramps from the side also provide easy access to the Science Park for the wheelchair-bound visitors.
There is also an old fighter aircraft on display within the premises and it is accessible too.
The drinking water cooler is accessible via ramps.
There are numerous ramps all over the place to provide easy movement of the differently abled.
Handrails and ramps provide excellent walkability and accessibility for all.
There is also an elevator to go to the upper floor to access the exhibits there.
There is a separate toilet for the differently abled and the path to the toilets is disabled-friendly.
The front desk is accessible too.
The top attractions is the Automobile gallery which is unque to the Science Park in Pune
The entrance to this gallery is neatly leveled and hence accessible.
The Energy gallery and the Fun Science exhibits are accessible too.
The cafeteria is accessible via a ramp.
The chairs and tables within the cafeteria are a accessible too.
The spacious galleries have floors that are neatly leveled to provide easy movement from one exhibit to another.
The spacing between two exhibits is enough to allow convenient movement of a wheelchair.
I also included local guide from outside Pune via a Google Meet.
Local guides from other parts of India joined virtually.
Outside the Science Park building, local guides indulged in deep conversations, sharing tips and tricks and new features in Google Maps and LG Connect.
Local Guides exchanged badges, Pins, stickers, and stamps on their forearms.
This was an innovation from Amit Nerkar.
The badge was designed by Ajit Thite and distributed by me.
Later we moved over to the nearby Cafe Durga which is Pune’s well known and most loved cafe chain.
Please be aware of fake outlets which are named reverse as ‘Durga Cafe’.
Here are the joyous and enthusiastic local guides of Pune accompanying young family members enjoying snacks and coffee after 2 hours of walking in the Science Park.
The Pune local guides meetup was a very enriching and enjoyable experience for everyone who participated.
Participants list:
@AjitThite @abhishekpatk @NERKARAMIT @Abhi_Pune @karan_lalpotu @KJ22999
greatly appreciate it 
