Seats for women, but who's seated

Seats for women, but who's seated
Vijay Times

Bangalore: The menace of men occupying seats reserved for women has come to haunt BMTC buses again. T raffic police show blissful ignorance of the issue and conductors too show reluctance to help women passengers. Reason: the stickers displaying the seats reserved for women, senior citizens, and physically challenged are disappearing or getting worn out.

V anitha, a government employee and a regular passenger in BMTC buses said, "When we board the buses either during the peak hours or casual hours, we can see men occupying the women seats. When we ask them to vacate first they have a look at the sticker pasted to see whether it is completely visible or not. Only then they vacate the seat. If the sticker is not visible or worn out, then they refuse to vacate. They refuse even upon requesting them. When we complain to the conductor or the driver , we receive blank stares and nothing else," she complained.

Speaking to Vijay Times, BMTC Chief T raffic Manager, Dastagir Sharieff said that they will shortly launch a checking drive to replace old or missing stickers in buses.

Meanwhile, BMTC will shortly change the colour of the seats reserved for women to red from the present green so that people can identify the seats reserved for women easily .

Sharieff said conductors do not have the authority to impose any fines on commuters, but would be advised not to occupy the reserved seats themselves.

BMTC Sarathi Mobile squads will also conduct routine checks to enforce this regulation, he added.