By Raqib Hameed Naik, TwoCircles.net
Srinagar: A special bus service for women was launched in Srinagar on Tuesday, April 19, and this step, seen as a possible outcome of Mehbooba Mufti taking over as the first woman Chief Minister of J&K, has met with loud approval from women commuters.
“On the directions of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, the Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Dr Farooq Ahmad Lone on Monday convened a meeting to review the modalities for starting Ladies Special Bus Services in Srinagar City,” said an official spokesperson.
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The services, which will run on an hourly basis from 8 am to 6 pm everyday on hourly basis, are being provided by Jammu and Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation (JKSRTC) and private transporters on routes like Lal Chowk to Hazratbal Lal Chowk to Soura (to and fro), Nowgam Railway Station to Lal Chowk via Pantha Chowk.
Importantly, the women commuters have for long complained about the harassment they face at the hands of male commuters while travelling in the public transport.
“Usually I have to take a public transport to go to college. There have been instances that I was harassed by men who try to touch inappropriately or stare, and it makes me uncomfortable. The start of exclusive buses for women’s is really an appreciable initiative,” Nowsheen Khurshid, a college student from Chanapora told TwoCircles.net.
Shazia Hafiz from Natipora, who endorsed Nowsheen’s view, said the buses, often overloaded, are a den for molesters.
“In a conservative society like Kashmir, the victim women’s usually stay silent due to the stigma attached to speak up against molestation. Here women are blamed while molesters go scot free. May times, my friends had to spot boarding the vehicle and take alternate routes due to frequent harassments,” Shazia Hafiz, a Technologist working in a private laboratory told TwoCircles.net.
The main problem being faced by the commuting local populace in Kashmir is lack of public transport leading to overcrowding and thereby the laws broken, which is often ignored by traffic police.
“A vehicle which can carry 30 people is seen carrying double its capacity. The government should seriously look at this issue and roll down more vehicles so as both men and women could have a hassle-free travel,” said Khusbhu, an engineering student from SSM College of Engineering.
SSP Traffic Srinagar, Maqsood-ul-Zaman has constituted a team of traffic police who will monitor the bus services to ensure its smooth operation in the city.
In case of any problem, the passengers of the special bus services can contact on whats app no 9622882222 or Helpline Number 1-800-180-7091