Six of the busiest Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) bus terminals in the Capital lack proper security, revealed an audit conducted by non-profit organisation Jagori.
The audit, which was done last year, rated the bus terminals on parameters like security, accessibility, lighting and openness, using the safety application, Safetipin.
The findings were then submitted to the corporation along with the recommendations to improve the situation.
Though nothing much has changed on the ground, the DTC claims that they have been taking all the steps to ensure safety and security of passengers.
“We have been taking the necessary steps needed to make the terminals accessible and safe for public,” DTC PRO R. S. Minhas said.
One of the recommendations said that all the bus terminals should have security guards, especially at night. However, the terminals are still unmanned and people can enter without being checked.
Another recommendation was about installing lights in front of the terminals. While terminals like Shahdara and Azadpur have proper lighting, Nehru Place still lacks it.
Another point in the survey was accessibility to clean toilets. A woman commuter at the Nehru Place terminal said, “Using toilet here is like a nightmare. It is never clean and fit for use.”
“This is one of the worst bus terminals in Delhi. Sitting area is bad and toilets are very dirty,” said another passenger.
Asked if they would feel safe to travel at night, a woman said, “There is no question of travelling alone at night from Nehru Place. If it was Kashmere Gate, I would still feel safe, because there are policemen and guards around. Here one can only see porters, shopkeepers, and passengers.”
The situation is similar at the Mehrauli bus terminal.
The report points
out to absence of proper lighting and filthy toilets at many bus terminals
