DTC to start ''ladies special'' bus on route 544

New Delhi, October 16

The Delhi Transportation Corporation (DTC) will start a morning and evening "ladies special bus service" within a week on DTC bus route 544 came to light.

The decision came after reater Kailash MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj today convened a joint meeting with stakeholders at Gargi College regarding growing cases of sexual harassment and molestation in the neighbourhood of colleges and in DTC buses, especially on route 544.

The meeting was attended by officers of the DTC, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), Home Guards and police's crime against women cell. Various students unions, principals, chairpersons of three girls' colleges also participated in the meeting.

Girl students of Gargi College, Jija Bai Women Polytechnic and Kamla Nehru College explained about frequent molestation by anti-social elements around two colleges and in DTC buses.

Girls claimed that policemen on barricades duty often ignore sexual harassment happening before their eyes.

Though DCP (South) Vijay Kumar, ACP and SHO Hauz Khas avoided the meeting despite advanced notices, other junior police officers, who attended the meeting have promised better enforcement and vigilance.

The DTC promised to take action against bus marshals for negligence. Though there is a Metro feeder bus service named ML-74 which should run via Kamla Nehru and Gargi College, students claimed that they have never seen this bus.

Later, the GPS data confirmed that this feeder service is not running on designated route. Instead, its violating the route given by the State Transport Authority. The DMRC and transport department have promised strict action against these violations. — TNS