As phase 1 of the Bengaluru Metro gets fully functional, the BMRCL is now planning to introduce women-only coaches in every train.
The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd’s (BMRCL) decision comes as the agency has taken up a survey to figure out the number of women passengers who use the Metro daily, The New Indian Express reported.
After the Nagasandra-Yelachenahalli Green Line became operational, three lakh passengers on an average have been commuting through the Metro every day.
According to TNIE, BMRCL officials are of the view that around 40% of the commuters are women, but they do not have an exact count of the number of women passengers.
Bengaluru Development Minister, K J George, on Thursday, told the Assembly that there was a proposal to introduce a coach reserved for women in every Metro train.
After this announcement, the BMRCL has taken up the survey.
BMRCL has directed its staffers at all metro stations to note down the number of women passengers boarding the trains every one hour.
All Metro trains will also broadcast announcements asking passengers to offer seats to pregnant women, women with children and senior citizens, the report added.
Pradeep Singh Kharola, Managing Director of BMRCL, said that the agency has placed orders for additional coaches as currently, each train has only three coaches.
The additional coaches are expected to be added by December this year and once that becomes functional, one coach will be reserved for women only.
According to the report, most women passengers take the Metro at fixed hours. The most common time period is between 8 am to 10.30 am and 5 pm to 8 pm.
The BMRCL director, however, said that one coach will definitely be reserved for women passengers. However, if the survey reveals that one coach will not be enough, then two will be allotted for women.