BENGALURU: THE Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL), which is planning to introduce a dedicated women’s coach in every train, has taken up a survey to gauge the number of women passengers who use the Metro every day.
After the Green Line (Nagasandra-Yelachenahalli) became operational, three lakh passengers on an average have been commuting through the Metro every day. Though BMRCL officials say around 40 per cent of them are women, they do not have the exact figure.
Recently, Bengaluru Development Minister K J George told the Assembly that there was a proposal to introduce a coach reserved for women in every Metro train. As part of this, BMRCL has taken up the survey. “We were told to note down the number of women passengers taking the Metro train every one hour. We are doing it at all Metro stations,’’ a Metro staffer told Express.
All Metro trains will also broadcast announcements asking passengers to offer seats to pregnant women, women with children and senior citizens.
Pradeep Singh Kharola, Managing Director of BMRCL, said at present, Metro trains have three coaches. “We have placed orders for additional coaches. This is expected by December this year. Once it is functional, we will reserve a coach for women passengers,’’ he said. However, he did not reveal much about the survey.
According to official sources, “There are many women passengers who take the Metro at fixed hours. Most of them commute between 8 am to 10.30 am and 5 pm to 8 pm. We will anyway reserve one coach for women passengers. If required, even two coaches can be given,’’ sources said.
Swaroopa Venkatesh, who works in a private firm, said a coach reserved for women is the need of the hour. “Metro trains are overcrowded during the peak hour. Taking such trains is not convenient,’’ she said.