Security up in ladies' coach on Daund trains

PUNE: Women commuters travelling by Daund-Pune shuttle trains have urged the railway administration to provide additional security and another dedicated ladies' coach in each rake following repeated cases of teasing and misbehavior by men.
The commuters staged a protest at Daund station on Tuesday morning seeking immediate action by the administration.The Railway Protection Force (RPF) increased deployment of personnel in the train immediately.
Frequent travellers told TOI that they have submitted a memorandum to the Pune railway division and expected quick action. "The demand for additional ladies coach in shuttles has been pending for long. There is a sense of fear among the women commuters because of an increase in the cases of teasing and misbehavior by men," they said.
As per estimates, over 3,000 women travel by Daund-bound shuttles every day, most of them are office- goers and students. The trains stop at Urali Kanchan, Loni, Kedgaon and Daund.
The commuters said additional ladies compartments are a must, as the coaches available at present are inadequate. They said there was a significant increase in the number of women passengers over the last few years.
A woman who travels from Daund to Pune daily said, "Incidents of teasing and misbehavior by men have increased since the last two weeks, especially in the morning trains. Initially, we ignored it but when there were repeated occurrences we decided to take the matter to the administration. We also handed over a video clip of people misbehaving."
Another passenger said there has been rapid development in residential, commercial and educational spaces between Pune and Daund in last few years. More people are now using the train services. Many girls who are studying in colleges in Pune travel in these shuttles. But facilities for women don't meet the basic requirements. "There is only one ladies coach which cannot accommodate 500 women. If local trains in Pune-Lonavla section have three ladies coaches, why is there only one ladies coach in Daund section?" asked another woman commuter.
Officials in the railway administration said they have increased the presence of RPF personnel in the morning shuttles which are crowded. The memorandum by women commuters demands attaching an additional coach or reserving one coach in the rake for ladies, officials said.
The issue will be discussed with the Solapur railway division which covers Daund.
What the woman want
# Augmentation of a ladies coach in the morning and evening shuttles
# Increase security on trains
# Running of shuttles on time
Pune-Daund section
# Significant increase in travellers in the last few years
# Passenger numbers up at stations like Urali Kanchan, Loni and Kedgaon