The working women and girl students of the city who commute daily through the city buses have sounded happy over the spaces of the buses being partitioned to ensure that they travel safely now and are spared eve- teasing and the like they were subjected to while travelling.
“Yes. We are happy, We are relieved too as our safety and comforts have been taken care of. These buses remaining overcrowded most of the times we travel, we are used to encountering nuisances in the forms of eve teasing. We hope the initiatives would ease us of other forms of inconvenience we face while we travel,” said Manorama Singh, a working woman.
It is learnt that one hundred city buses have been partitioned through the wire nets. “Things started earlier in a few buses. But now 100 such buses have been fitted with them,” said a state transport official.
However, there are some who say such segregation of seats for male and female passengers is an anachronism. “Instead of partitioning, the authorities should have gone for more effective steps like police keeping a hawk- eyed vigil to spare the women passengers their regular portion of inconvenience,” said Purnima, another daily commuter of the city buses.
However, more are in store for the women commuters in the city buses. Right now, just 100 of the city buses are enjoying the partitioned space. In the coming days, owners of 250 more buses would go for the same.
Notably, RTO has given the deadline of January 20for all the buses to have the partition. “Earlier, it was a trial but after the positive reviews these are being placed in all the city buses,” said Vijay Vardhan Dandriyal, president of Dehradun City Bus Association.
He added that the only problem with the arrangement is with the conductors frequenting both the sections to collect tickets. “However, the problem would be solved as we are planning to engage separate conductors for both the sections,” he said.
“I welcome it as a good start. This has made travelling a little safer and more comfortable. Earlier, we used to face harassment from some drunkards. Now, things partitioned, we would face it no longer,” said Priyanka Thapa, a resident of Mothrowala .
A student Urusha said she was happy that these buses have made for separate entrances and exits for the female passengers. “Now, even if we fail to get seats it is no problem. We can stand care-free with no malicious eye shadowing us,” she added.
“Many find it right and many a little weird, but as it comes to ensuring safety for the women it is okay. I am sure it would at least reduce eve-teasing ,” said one Mohan lal Sharma , found waiting for a bus.