Working women want special buses

GUWAHATI: After the July 9 G S Road molestation incident, security of women travelling post dusk in the city is being questioned. A lot of women feel it is high time the state government takes proper steps for working women who have to stay out late and provide special bus services for them, especially in the late evening and night.
They also feel that private companies should provide transportation for female employees if they have to stay late at work.
Shravana Misra Bhagabati, a city-based oncologist whose work keeps her out and about for long hours, often post dusk, said, "Women are not safe in the city anymore. After the July 9 incident, a lot of protests and rallies are being taken out, but I really don't know how much will be done about the problems women have to face every day. Most of the time, we don't even get a seat in the bus and have to struggle to get in and get out of overcrowded buses. A lot of women have to work till late these days, so the government should introduce special late evening / night bus services for working women," she said.
City bus services are only available only up to 9pm. Also, buses are infrequent after 7.30-8pm, which compels women travelling post that time to walk or take autos.
Priti Gogoi, who works for a private bank in the city, said, "The city is growing fast and most women working in the private sector can't leave office before 8-8:30 pm. But, we can't find buses most of the time and are forced to take an autorickshaw. But that is not feasible all the time as auto fares are very high. So, companies should provide drops for their women employees."
Officials of the Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) said that introducing special bus services for women is on the cards and a proposal has already been made to the government to start the service soon.
Senior ASTC official Dwijen Lahkar said, "We have already given a proposal to the government for a new city bus service for women and children. The bus service would especially cater to women and children and would run till late night. We need around 20 new air-conditioned buses, procuring which will take some time. Once we get the buses, the services will begin. We had been proposing this for a long time and after the molestation incident that took place last week, a lot of women are demanding such a service," he said.