Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMRL) launched an exclusive coach for women, formally inaugurated by table tennis player Naina Jaiswal, on Monday.
The coach will carry special stickers at the entrance and also a barricade in the middle to separate it from the men’s section.
HMRL managing director N.V.S. Reddy said, “We received representations from various women’s groups that there must be a separate section for women to facilitate easy travel, and since the government is also very keen that women travel in safety, this coach has been segregated from the rest.”
The barrier has been created with a single file, which prevents entry from the other side.
The Metro rail coaches usually have no compartments and are a composite unit based on international standards, so it is difficult to create a separate section.
On the first day of travel, many women regulars were thrilled to find a special section ear-marked for them, though some confusion is likely for a few days.
Though the platform sports new signage indicating the changed state of affairs, many men are likely to inadvertently enter the coach unawares.
Similarly, the security guard and staff at the platform level may take a few more days to understand the new pattern.
At present, 75,000 passengers use the Metro every day, 35 per cent women among them.
The special coach is also likely to increase footfalls of women travellers.
Metro works in Old City not to start before ’19
The Metro rail works in the Old City will not start before 2019, as the government will need to decide whether they need to acquire 80-feet or 100-feet property to build the Metro rail.
The rail works from Jubliee bus stand to MGBS bus stand would be completed by the year end. But the stretch from Salar Jung Museum to Falaknuma will take time.
N.V.S. Reddy, managing director of Hyderabad Metro Rail said, “We have submitted the plans to the government. The option of taking 80 feet or 100 feet and the properties to be affected due to that have been studied and a detailed report prepared. The government has to take a final decision on it.”
The decision will then begin with the land acquisition, which will take six to eight months.
