UP to launch all-women 'Pink' buses to ensure safe travel for women

The union government's Ministry of Women and Child Development has sanctioned funds for the 50 buses from its 'Nirbhaya Fund'.

In a bid to provide safe and secure journey to women passengers, especially the working women who are away from their home, the Uttar Pradesh government will soon launch 'Pink' air-conditioned buses exclusively for women, an official said on Monday.

The union government's Ministry of Women and Child Development has sanctioned funds for the 50 buses from its 'Nirbhaya Fund'.

The staff, including a conductor in these buses, will be women, the official added.

A presentation for these buses was made before ministry officials on July 21 by the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) authorities.

The ministry has mandated the state government to buy the buses and also to purchase and install CCTV cameras in the other 12,500 buses owned by the UPSRTC.

The 'Pink' buses will have panic buttons installed for emergencies.

The new air-conditioned bus would be equipped with Vehicle Tracking System, which will monitor each and every aspect of the vehicle's movement ranging from over-speeding and sudden halts to on-board misbehaviour and illegal halts.

Passengers would be provided UPSRTC's in-house magazine (Yatra Darpan) along with free Wi-Fi facility (for an hour) and tabloid newspaper.

IANS