In the past one year, there has been a steady rise in the number of passengers on Namma Metro trains. While this is good news for the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL), passengers, who were once used to near-empty coaches, are finding themselves being crammed into the small train coaches. For women passengers, this has meant a rise in discomfort and in some cases, even harassment.
While Delhi Metro reserves seats for women and has women-only coaches, Namma Metro has refrained from following suit. However, the demand for a separate coach for women, or at least earmarking seats for them, is growing louder. The clamour is expected to increase when Phase I is completed by May.
“My work hours force me to travel during peak hours every morning and evening. It is next to impossible to find a seat. Often, I have to stand in a crowd, which gets really uncomfortable. When I am with my friends, we try to stand in a corner, but this is not always possible,” says Roshni Singh, who travels between Indiranagar and Vijayanagar daily.
Practical difficulties
Shubha R., who commutes to the Vidhana Soudha station daily, says: “It is not that I feel unsafe travelling in Namma Metro, but it is definitely uncomfortable as there is a lot of pushing and jostling while boarding or deboarding, and when the train stops and starts. There are practical difficulties. For example, at the entry and exit doors, there is not enough support to hold on to. In the coach, it becomes very difficult for short women to find support as well.”
Commuters in the northern parts will be connected to south Bengaluru once the entire Green Line is commissioned. This is expected to increase the number of commuters to 5 lakh daily, going by BMRCL estimates.
Namma Metro has earmarked some seats for the differently abled and for pregnant women. BMRCL encourages people to give up their seats for women.
“But asking a person to give up their seat is not advisable. If they do it voluntarily, it is okay, but this is not always the case. I just ensure I board trains which have a little standing space. It may lead to delays, but it is better than being uncomfortable on a crowded train,” says Deepthi R., a regular commuter.
First, number of coaches has to go up
Earmarking seats for women is not the preferred choice of the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation, as this could lead to arguments if a male passenger refuses to vacate the seat, an official said.
“The focus is on convincing male passengers to voluntarily give up their seats for women,” a senior BMRCL official said.
However, if the number of coaches in each rake is increased, there is another option. “It is possible to earmark an entire coach for women passengers then,” the official said.
However, augmentation of coaches is not expected to happen before 2018.
While Delhi Metro reserves seats for women and has women-only coaches, Namma Metro has refrained from following suit. However, the demand for a separate coach for women, or at least earmarking seats for them, is growing louder. The clamour is expected to increase when Phase I is completed by May.
“My work hours force me to travel during peak hours every morning and evening. It is next to impossible to find a seat. Often, I have to stand in a crowd, which gets really uncomfortable. When I am with my friends, we try to stand in a corner, but this is not always possible,” says Roshni Singh, who travels between Indiranagar and Vijayanagar daily.
Practical difficulties
Shubha R., who commutes to the Vidhana Soudha station daily, says: “It is not that I feel unsafe travelling in Namma Metro, but it is definitely uncomfortable as there is a lot of pushing and jostling while boarding or deboarding, and when the train stops and starts. There are practical difficulties. For example, at the entry and exit doors, there is not enough support to hold on to. In the coach, it becomes very difficult for short women to find support as well.”
Commuters in the northern parts will be connected to south Bengaluru once the entire Green Line is commissioned. This is expected to increase the number of commuters to 5 lakh daily, going by BMRCL estimates.
Namma Metro has earmarked some seats for the differently abled and for pregnant women. BMRCL encourages people to give up their seats for women.
“But asking a person to give up their seat is not advisable. If they do it voluntarily, it is okay, but this is not always the case. I just ensure I board trains which have a little standing space. It may lead to delays, but it is better than being uncomfortable on a crowded train,” says Deepthi R., a regular commuter.
First, number of coaches has to go up
Earmarking seats for women is not the preferred choice of the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation, as this could lead to arguments if a male passenger refuses to vacate the seat, an official said.
“The focus is on convincing male passengers to voluntarily give up their seats for women,” a senior BMRCL official said.
However, if the number of coaches in each rake is increased, there is another option. “It is possible to earmark an entire coach for women passengers then,” the official said.
However, augmentation of coaches is not expected to happen before 2018.