The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Women vexed, but have no choice

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Monday, Sep 22, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Women vexed, but have no choice

Staff Reporter

— Photo: Mohd. Yousuf

Routine: Women are forced to travel on footboards due to inadequate services.

HYDERABAD: These are the days when women passengers in twin cities are forced to commute on footboards of RTC buses like men. The seats reserved for ladies are always occupied and dearth of RTC ladies special buses leaves them with little option but to travel on footboards.

“Till recently, the idea of travelling on footboards was unthinkable but these days most women are getting used to it. Forget about finding a seat, it’s even tough to stand in a city bus during peak hours,” says K. Devi Naga Lakshmi, a regular commuter on route no. 127 K (Koti – Kondapur).

The worst thing is that majority of men occupy seats reserved for ladies and despite conductors instructing them to vacate, not many oblige. On an average, 650 cases are booked against men every month for occupying ladies seats, stands a testimony.

The Greater Hyderabad Zone, to make it convenient for women commuters, introduced exclusive ladies special buses couple of years back. With the increasing demand for such buses, RTC launched nearly 30 buses last year and presently is operating 74 ladies special buses in 148 trips on different routes.

Though RTC authorities boast of operating more ladies special buses, it is a different story on roads. It’s tough to get a lady special bus during peak hours, particularly in the evenings, says K. Pushpa, a commuter who changes two buses to reach her office at Ameerpet from Nacharam.

However, RTC authorities say that majority of the ladies special buses generate occupancy ratio of about 50 per cent.

After peak hours, the occupancy ratio is even poor and increasing ladies special trips would not be feasible for the corporation, explains Greater Hyderabad Zone Executive Director P.V.D Jayasanker Prasad.

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