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Safety on wheels: Women feel at risk in Namma Metro

Women rights activists in Bengaluru have been demanding women-only coaches in BMRCL trains.

Bengaluru: A viral video of women in a Delhi metro beating up a group of men for entering a coach reserved for women has sparked a debate here about lack of safety for women travelling in Namma Metro.

Though BMRCL has made a rule that the first two doors of the first coach after the loco pilot, should be used only by women, the women commuters complain it hardly serves any purpose. They claim that men access the same coach from the rear doors.

Aniths H.S., a lecturer, said men who harass women after entering the coach should be penalized. The BMRCL’s new rule has done little to improve the situation, she added.

A six coach rake, with one coach exclusively for women, was flagged off recently on the Purple Line, but its frequency is currently limited. Many women commuters claim they mostly miss that train because it runs only during peak hours.

"Only one train has six coaches, with a separate coach for women, but we miss it and have to travel by three-coach train. Even in six coach train men enter sections reserved for women. BMRCL or the police department should take action," Anitha added.

In the Green Line metro there are no six-coach trains. Though men are barred from entering the first two door of the first coach, women can exit from any door or coach.

Women rights activists in Bengaluru have been demanding women-only coaches in BMRCL trains.

“Men know that the first two doors are only for the women in a three-coach train, but they enter in the third door and move towards front door. There is no signage mentioning that the front area is for women,” said Shravanthi V, a coordinator at private NGO.

We request BMRCL to make a strict rule that if the officials notice men travelling in women’s section, they have to remove them or call the security, Shravanthi added.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle. )
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