Women Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited staff demand drop facility

Bengaluru: Women employees of BMRCL have demanded that the management make arrangements to drop them to their homes after night shift.

Despite Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) employing a large number of women as loco pilots and in other departments, it has no policy of dropping women at their homes at night after work.

Kavitha (name changed), who works at a Metro station, told Deccan Chronicle, “Our shift is till 10.30 pm and by the time we leave the station, it is around 10.45 pm. Our timings do not match with BMTC buses, which go off the road by 10 pm. Though private cabs and autorickshaws are available, we avoid them because of safety issues and expense.”

After the infamous Delhi rape, most state governments have made it mandatory for companies to drop women employees to their houses after night shift. “It would be much better, safer and more secure if women are made to work during daytime. At BMRCL, employees are not allowed to talk to higher officials as all issues are handled by station managers. I have to walk home from work and most of the time, I am alone. I know it is dangerous, but I don’t have an option,” Kavitha said.

Mr Ajay Seth, Managing Director, BMRCL, agreed that women employees on night shifts faced problems and that the door drop system should be introduced. “I am new to the corporation and it is taking time for me to learn. I have heard that our women employees face problems at night. Soon I will arrange a meeting with station heads and with the employees to solve the problem as soon as possible. Also, I request the BMTC to operate buses from our stations till 11 pm.”