Soon, more women will drive govt-run buses in Bengaluru: BMTC to train 1000 women drivers

With this project, women can apply for jobs to drive taxis as well.
Soon, more women will drive govt-run buses in Bengaluru: BMTC to train 1000 women drivers
Soon, more women will drive govt-run buses in Bengaluru: BMTC to train 1000 women drivers
Written by:

After Namma Metro inducted women drivers, now the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) is planning to train 1,000 women to drive buses and light motor vehicles.

These 1,000 women can then apply for a driver’s job in the state-run corporations after the completion of training.

“BMTC has one woman driver out of a staff of 34,000. We are planning to induct more women so that gradually, there will be equal number of men and women drivers,” said BMTC PRO, Nagaraj.

The BMTC is now in the process of inducting 3,000 additional buses as well. “Earlier this year, there was news that BMTC does not have enough buses. This is not true anymore. BMTC is planning to induct 3,000 buses, so there won’t be any ley offs once the women drivers are hired,” Nagaraj added.

The transport body is planning to build a separate lounge for women in major bus stands and install CCTV cameras inside city buses. The Corporation is expecting a fund of Rs 35 to Rs 40 crore from the central government under Nirbhaya scheme, which it will utilise for the CCTVs.

Nagaraj said that the fund will be utilised for the welfare of women and to take up safety measures.

“This training project is not meant for only those who want to become drivers for BMTC buses. With this project, women can apply for jobs to drive taxis as well. The aspirants will be trained in BMTC’s driving tracks,” he added.

The BMTC has turned to the central government for funding the project. “The Centre has a fund for Nirbhaya scheme, which was launched in 2013, but the fund remains underutilised. The Supreme Court had also questioned the Centre on non-utilization of fund reserved for safety measures. We are planning to get funding from this scheme,” a senior BMTC official said.

In 2016, the corporation had put the plan of installing CCTVs in cold storage due to shortage of funds. After it was assured of getting the fund, the BMTC has now has taken a decision to install CCTV cameras in 500 buses.

Related Stories

No stories found.
The News Minute
www.thenewsminute.com