The Women Special Bus, launched in the city with much pomp and show, does not seem to be special for women as it has failed to attract the intended group of commuters. The bus which is launched with the objective of women security is ironically running with vacant seats, as a result of which it is not able to earn feasible revenue for the entrusted department.
Women Special bus conductor Yashmin Kumari said, “We are only earning Rs 500 a day. The amount is too small to meet our diesel expenses. I shout out loud in order to call women commuter for boarding the bus but it is sad to find that women prefer to commute in city bus which is for both the sexes.” The bus daily starts from Shaheed Maidan near state Assembly and crosses through Booty More via Birsa Chowk, Hinoo, Doranda College, Rajendra Chowk, Sujata Chowk, Gossner College, Sirom Toli Chowk, Bahu Bazaar, Kantatoli, Dangratoli, lalpur Chowk, Hari Om Tower, Jail More, Kutchery Chowk and Karamtoli Chowk, before ending its journey outside RIMS. The service starts from 9 am and makes as many as three trips a day till 8 pm.
According to Yashmin as many as 50 women commuter avail the services in a day. “The capacity of the bus is that of as many 70-75 passengers at a time but it is sad to find we succeed in grabbing only 50 passengers that to in a day and majority of time the seats remain vacant. Moreover, the administration is also planning to shut the proposal if it fails to increase the number of female commuters in near future,” she added.
However, when the officials of Jharkhand Tourism Development Corporation (JTDC) who are responsible for running the bus were inquired over the matter of closing the service they succinctly said ‘No’. Manager at JTDC Sidhnath Kumar said, “We will spread awareness among the women commuters regarding the service. Right now we have no such plan.” A female commuter who was availing the special bus women service said, “It is safe to travel in women special bus as now we do not face any act of voyeurism while traveling in public transport system. Moreover, activities such as eve-teasing, robbery are also curbed. I strongly believe that this service is safe for city women.”
According to Jahan Khan, in regular city buses male commuters use to acquire the seat of female passengers and never vacant the seat for female passenger. But in this service we do not face such problems. Moreover, we reach our destination on short duration as compared with other city buses.