In the wake of massive outrage following the brutal rape and murder of a veterinarian in Hyderabad, various agencies in Bengaluru are stepping up security measures to ensure women’s safety.
The Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) and Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) have now installed measures to ensure the safety of female passengers.
According to TOI, BMTC on Saturday said that women security guards would be deployed at waiting lounges in 12 major bus stations in the city, who will survey the premises. The waiting lounges will be open from 6 am till the last bus leaves the station.
“BMTC has constructed lounges for the safety and convenience of women passengers at the stations/traffic and transit management centres under the Nirbhaya Scheme,” a BMTC press release said.
“Apart from seating arrangements, the lounges provide facilities like infant feeding rooms, washrooms and glass partitions, which will help track bus movement,” the release said.
In March this year, BMTC inaugurated the waiting lounges after a long wait. The BMTC had proposed the idea in 2017, however, the agency had complained of delay in the central government allotting Nirbhaya Funds, leading to the delay in constructing these lounges.
The BMTC stated that these waiting lounges too would be under surveillance of women security guards.
Since December 3, the BMRCL has been providing a woman guard on every train that runs beyond 10 pm. According to The New Indian Express, nearly 31% of BMRCL’s daily ridership of 4 lakh commuters are women. However, the ridership of women passengers is low after 9.30 pm, the report stated.
BMRCL introduced this in the wake of reports of crimes against women and also after several women passengers had complained of men entering the coaches meant for women only. There were also complaints of men misbehaving with women travelling late at night.
BMRCL, on December 4, issued a notification that allowed women to carry pepper spray for self defence. Earlier, the BMRCL had banned pepper spray as it is flammable.