A 100 buses to end travel woes for women in Delhi

Being a woman, does travelling in a closed AC bus late night post work make you worry about your safety? If yes, then it’s not just the concern of one, but many women in the city. “No matter what mode of transport we use, there is always a sense of fear. We can’t sleep, no matter how long is the journey from our office to home,” says Pallavi Singh, a working professional in Delhi.

Women safety, while travelling, is certainly on the priority list of security agencies in Delhi. Therefore, Delhi Police recently introduced the safety app Himmat, and also impart selfdefence training in schools and colleges. And now, Delhi Police have introduced 100 private buses, in association with an app, to make travel safer for Delhi women.

Depender Pathak, Special CP (Traffic), who inaugurated this bus service, said, “Delhi Police have and will continue to make the city safe for women to live, work, and travel in. We will continue to partner, in any way possible, with credible organisations in this regard. The app presently has more than 30,000 people travelling everyday, and our association will help boost the use of the Himmat app. The idea is to create awareness for safety of women.”

The women helpline number 1091 and informative posters on Sashakti (selfdefence) training and other initiatives by Delhi Police are displayed on these buses. Messages on women empowerment and antiterrorism are also displayed on both sides of the buses .

“In our buses, 35% users are women. When the buses start, there is a face recognition technique to ensure that the driver assigned for the job is the one driving the bus. Women also find it safer when they get to buy the pass before boarding the bus, and become sure of their safety. We try to make common people aware about women’s safety. In this case, we are using our buses to spread this message on behalf of Delhi Police,” says Amit Singh, founder of the app.

Delhi police have and will continue to make the city safe for women to live, work, and travel in. We will continue to partner with credible organisations in this regard

DEPENDRA PATHAK,

SPECIAL CP (TRAFFIC)