Commuting woes: Working women demand safe transport

Complaints of harassment by drivers, conductors rife, only two front seats reserved for women in vans

ISLAMABAD: Working women of Islamabad and Rawalpindi on Monday have demanded of the government for provision of safe and standard transport between the twin cities.

In the twin cities, thousands of working men, women and students have been left at the mercy of private transporters. They are forced to travel between Islamabad and Rawalpindi changing vehicles from stop to stop as routes have been so designed as to make the most from passengers.

Stuffed in vans and pickups, the commuters of the twin cities are exposed to safety risks, humiliation and reckless driving, all of which lead to a yearning for a decent transport system. Young women in particular face shameless harassment not only from the travelling public but also drivers and conductors. Their lot is the worst among the commuters.

They complained that female commuters have to tolerate harsh and careless attitude of the local van drivers and conductors due to multiple issues while travelling between twin cities.

Due to non-availability of sufficient space in the local vans and minimum seats for women makes it harder to reach at the destination on time, Farheen Asim, a government schoolteacher told APP.

"I have to change two vans daily to reach Murree and Metro Bus service is of no use for me. Local vans' pathetic service multiplies our woes '', she added.

Sadia a student of Lums University said that usually van conductors offer front seat to women so only two female passengers can be accommodated in one van, while rest of the female commuters have to wait on bus stop for the next van and it depends on their luck as well if they found seat in next van.

''I prefer online cab service for daily use as it is more convenient and secure but definitely it is not affordable for everyone'' Zahra Baloch a journalist shared her remarks.

Metro Bus is facilitating a particular lot and additionally there is no divider provided between male and female sections in buses, she added.

She suggested that there should be a moveable divider to offer a safest ride to women and children.

Women certainly experience unkind behaviour of drivers and conductors daily and when passengers asked they give quite hollow excuses for instance saying that they are in rush or going to other route, she informed.

Rafia Durrani a student while sharing her concern said that ''I am a student of a university and compelled to commute between twin cities daily and endure the embarrassing behaviour of conductors and sometimes fellow passengers too''.

When contacted, Khalid Yameen Satti, Secretary Regional Transport Authority said that they have already reserved seats for females in local vans and buses.

"We are planning to start a programme for women commuters to aware them how to tackle in a messy situation and deal with the situation during travelling'' he said.

He further said that travellers could speak or write to us for filing a complaint. “Complaints filer should note down the number of vehicle and route number before contacting us,” he further mentioned.  

Published in The Express Tribune, October 30^th, 2018.