The women passengers of local trains are a disgruntled lot. The associations representing women passengers have once again made a demand for increased space in local trains. Central Railway sets aside 20 per cent of its space for female commuters, while Western Railway sets aside 23 per cent in 12-car rakes.
However, according to Railways’ own survey, 30 per cent of the commuters on CR are women and WR has 26 per cent female passengers. The CR has 12 lakh female passengers (out of 40 lakh) and the WR has ninelakh passengers out of the total 35 lakh.
“The number of female passengers is growing every day and the Railways need to keep pace with the changing times,” a WR official said.
Passenger associations have been demanding an increase in space for female passengers, but nothing has been done so far. The Mumbai Rail Pravasi Sangh once again put forth a request to this effect last week. “We have been demanding for very long that the space allocated for women in local trains be increased. But, the Railways is doing nothing about it,” said Madhu Kotian of the Mumbai Rail Pravasi Sangh.
Suverna Agharkar, former member of Suburban Railway Users Consultative Committee says, “Even when the 15-car rake was introduced in WR, I had written a letter to the DRM that one full coach should be allotted for first class women travellers, but the Railways has failed to deliver.”
On being asked why nothing was being done to accommodate the increasing needs of the female commuters, A.K Singh, PRO, CR, said, “We are running eight ladies special trains and have reserved few coaches only for female passengers. However, as and when we get complaints or demands from the associations, we will consider it.”