Women travellers still don't feel safe

Love it or hate it, but you cannot ignore the change it has brought in the way the city travels. But Metro's reserved coach for women passengers still falls short of many expectations.

Love it or hate it, but you cannot ignore the change it has brought in the way the city travels.

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But Metro's reserved coach for women passengers still falls short of many expectations.

"Men need to be told in stricter terms that ladies coach is off-limits. Although awareness is slowly building up, we need stricter implementation," Rashmi Yadav, a resident of Jor Bagh.

Many women feel that the men in the city are incorrigible.

"Even after putting big stickers on the platforms and placing marshals at entry gates, men walk into the ladies coach. They pick up fights and abuse women when asked to get down," said Malini Mehta, who lives in Mayur Vihar Phase 2.

Last month, a fine of R200 was introduced to keep men from travelling in the women's coach. Women, however, feel the implementation is lax.

"The marshals let off offenders with only a light reprimand. Unless fines are imposed, no one will take the rule seriously. Also, I feel the fine is too meagre for people to take it seriously," said Manisha Dey, a media professional.

Yet, some changes brought about by the reserved coaches are tangible.

Twenty-eight-year-old Samia Rizvi does not have to worry any more about getting home at night. "My mother used to be a bundle of nerves till I reached home from office and I do not blame her. The men in the city are impossible," she said.

However, since a coach was reserved for women in the Metro, Rizvi feels much safer travelling at night. "At least I know I will not be groped while on the train. Also, now I feel much more confident to shoo away men from the ladies coach," she added.