02 September,2014 09:06 AM IST | | Vedika Chaubey
Decision taken to bolster security in ladies’ compartments at night, after female passengers expressed apprehensions about travelling in coaches guarded by only male RPF staff
A senior RPF official claimed that the force has been receiving complaints from women commuters that they are uncomfortable travelling in compartments guarded by male security staff.
Adding to the slew of measures implemented to ensure a safer nighttime journey for women commuters on the Western Railway (WR), the Railway Protection Force (RPF) is now planning to deploy its personnel in a single ladies' compartment instead of three. RPF officials claimed they had been contemplating on this plan for a long time and, now, it is in the final stages of implementation.
A senior RPF official claimed that the force has been receiving complaints from women commuters that they are uncomfortable travelling in compartments guarded by male security staff. File pic for representation
Officialspeak
WR RPF chief Devendra B Kasar said, "Safety of women has always been an issue in local trains, especially at night. This is the reason we are working on measures to enhance it further. The security staff, which will also include women personnel, will be deployed between 11 pm to 5 am in the ladies' compartment towards the Virar-end of the trains. The staff will be on duty at all times, except during the resting period of services on the suburban section."
RPF officials claimed that it was for the first time that the security force would be deploying female personnel on night duty.
"We have been receiving complaints from female passengers that they are not comfortable travelling in compartments guarded by male security staff. Suggestions had been made for deployment of female personnel, which we are now implementing," said a senior RPF official.
34lakh
Number of commuters who travel on WR every day
8lakh
Number of women passengers on Western Railway daily
