Private security guards to be deployed in DTC buses
NEW DELHI: In keeping with its poll promise of improving women’s safety in the Capital, the AAP government decided to hire private security guards for patrol duty on Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses because of a shortage of home guards.
Amid rising crimes, especially sexual assaults, against women, the government will recruit trained guards to be deployed round-the-clock on public buses, said government sources.
“The process of bringing more home guards is taking time and women’s security is a big concern for this government. In view of recent cases of crime against women, we have decided to go for private guards,” said a transport department official.
Sources said the government would invite tenders from private firms through whom trained guards will be recruited.
Currently, the Delhi government has deployed 1,000 home guards on DTC duty. “Already 1,000 home guards have reported to DTC from where they are deployed on different checking beats throughout Delhi,” said a transport department official.
Delhi’s home department had written to lieutenant-governor Najeeb Jung to relieve 4,500 home guards to be deployed as marshals in DTC buses, but he relieved only 2,000. Out of these, 1,000 were sent as guards in hospitals and other places.
With the DTC fleet having 5,000 buses, with each requiring at least two guards to work in shifts, the government is not able to cover all the buses.
At present, as there are only a limited number of home guards, a group of 4-5 guards is associated with at least one DTC traffic supervisor staff to conduct random checks, said the official.
“A group of 4-5 home guards has been associated with at least one DTC traffic supervisor staff. But these are not sufficient, so the transport minister has decided to go in for private guards. Our aim is to have a guard round-the-clock in every bus,” he said.
The AAP government had planned to increase the figure to around 5,000 home guards later.
“To fulfill the requirement, we will hire 500 guards every fortnight, and in two months we will have 4,000 guards to patrol in buses across Delhi,” said the official.
“As a pilot project, CCTV cameras will be installed in 10 buses,” said a senior official.