Abandoned?: Women commuters left in the lurch

Women-only van service not restarted despite assurances.


APP June 23, 2014

ISLAMABAD: The Regional Transport Authority has yet to resume the women-only “Tabeer” van service that was ostensibly stopped for one month on May 17. The service, operating between the twin cities, was launched four months ago.

This delay in resumption has left female commuters with no option other than to wait for hours in the scorching summer heat to catch regular public transport. “Tabeer” was stopped due to construction work at Murree Road.

Zarina Aslam, a nurse said that “Tabeer” was a great blessing especially during the rush hours and that they were facing severe problem after suspension of the service.

She said that she could not afford to be late for work due to the nature of her job and she now had to leave her home two hours early if she had a morning shift. Aslam requested the concerned authorities to restore the service before Ramazan starts.

Arifa Khursheed, who works at a non-government organization, said she was facing severe problem for the last month as the two-reserved seats for women on public transport vans were not enough.

She alleged that other vans were running on all their routes and claiming the suspension was due to work on Murree Road is “a lame excuse”.

“Why have the authorities only stopped 12 women transport vans,” she asked.

Regional Transport Authority Secretary Awais Manzoor Tarar said that the authorities were ready to resume the service, but they were waiting for completion of pillar work on the Metro Bus Service project at Murree Road.

“Women are not using Murree Road route due to the construction work, so the service does not have enough passengers at the moment,” he claimed.

Awais further said that they had recommended running between 18 and 24 vans, an increase from the 12 which were used during the pilot phase. 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 23rd, 2014.

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