The Delhi government, which has proposed to make travel free for women in buses and metro trains, on Friday announced the formation of a task force to ensure the safety of female commuters aboard public transport.
The move comes in the wake of a section of public transport experts claiming that there is no link between the proposed free travel scheme and the safety of women commuters.
“The task force will conduct both off and on-ground review and monitoring of all existing schemes and propose new plans for women safety in the city,” said Jasmine Shah vice-chairperson of the Delhi Dialogue and Development Commission.
The task force will comprise all stakeholders of public transport as well as eminent experts from the civil society working in the field of women safety and public transport in Delhi. It will also include two daily female commuters nominated by the Transport Minister, said Ms. Shah.
The AAP government is moving ahead to ensure that its ambitious proposal for providing free commute to women in public buses and metro trains comes before Delhi goes for Assembly polls next year. However, in its report to the city government, the DMRC has sought eight months to implement a short-term scheme of free ride in the metro.