Amid concerns about women’s safety in West Bengal after the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at a hospital in Kolkata, the North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC) will launch special buses for women on September 18.
NBSTC Chairman Partha Pratim Roy said that the ‘Ladies Special Buses’ will run on three routes, including the Siliguri to Jalpaiguri route, Coochbehar to Alipurduar, and the Coochbehar to Dinhata routes.
He said that the women’s special buses will have a female conductor and several other facilities for the women as well. “We are also searching for female bus drivers,” he said.
“The fare will be the same as other buses and these buses will run primarily during office hours,” the chairman added.
“We are also planning to install CCTV on the buses going from North Bengal to Kolkata, Assam, and also in Nepal, for the safety of women,” he added.
Several women welcomed this step by the state government and said that similar buses should be operated across the state.
Rashme Deb Muhury, a working professional from Siliguri said, “The government should take more steps like this. It was necessary for the government to ensure our safe journey.”
Arpita Roy Dewanjee, a teacher who resides in Siliguri, also appreciated the government for introducing special buses for women and said, “Not only on these three routes, but we need this bus service across North Bengal as well. The government should tighten the laws and security for the safety of women as well.”
(With inputs from Joydeep Bag)
