BENGALURU: While the launch of the two ‘Ladies only’ doors in the first coach of all Metro trains from Monday has received an overwhelming response from women, a minority among them preferred to travel by the third coach of a Metro train. The reason: the escalator and lifts at all 40 Metro stations are positioned near the exit of this coach only.
Top Metro officials told The New Indian Express that this was the response they repeatedly received from a few women who continued to travel in the general coaches. “Women are not barred from travelling in any coach. Some of them rushing to office in the morning hours seem to prefer the third one as they exit and rush to the escalator or the lift,” a top Operations official said. Another official who had been overseeing the launch of this new service said, “Most women and men are delighted with the new arrangement and we have received very positive feedback. But I can say that may be 5 percent of women prefer to travel in the general coaches only.”
Even when six coach trains are introduced and a full coach reserved for women, this section might continue to prefer them due to the positioning of these facilities, he said. The official also said that kids and schools students (in uniform) are also permitted to travel in the Ladies compartment. “We have not announced it officially but have informally communicated to our staff and Home Guards to permit children along with the women,” he said.