Days after Union minister Maneka Gandhi suggested that the ladies coach of Delhi Metro trains should be relocated from the extreme end, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has launched a survey for reviewing the existing position of the women’s compartment.
The three-day-long survey, that began on Monday, is being undertaken both online (on metro website) and offline wherein female commuters can let their preference, over the position of the reserved coach, known. “Around 30,000 forms will be distributed among female commuters at all the terminal stations, interchange stations and stations that record high footfalls,” a Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) spokesperson said.
DMRC said that the survey has been prompted following some suggestions to change the position of ladies coach the middle of the train. The participants of the brief survey can pick between “at end of the train or at middle of the train” on the question as to where they would prefer the position of the ladies coach.
The options come after a detailed explainer on the current position of the reserved coach chiefly from the angle of safety, emergency, convenience, restricting entry of male passengers and facilitating line changeover.
The women and child development minister had suggested that the reserved compartments be shifted to the middle of the train or be at both ends of the train as metro is getting crowded by the day making it “difficult” for a woman commuter to walk till the first reserved coach.
According to DMRC, from safety point of view, the first coach has been chosen to be reserved for its proximity to the emergency evacuation door, which makes it easy for fast evacuation of lady passengers in case of any emergency.
“First coach being adjacent to train operator’s cab is most convenient to be attended to by DMRC staff in case of any eventuality, especially during late night hours where the traffic is scanty. As crowd generally builds up near centre of platform, it would be convenient for women commuters to wait/board or alight train at platform ends,” Delhi Metro said. The first coach also ensures that that any attempt by male passengers from general coach to enter into ladies coach through the vestibule is restricted.
