JAMMU, JUNE 26: A highly positive initiative towards women security was taken on Saturday, as the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti launched a women special city bus service in Jammu, today.
The same service was also launched for the women in Srinagar by the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti.
This special bus service is being operated by Jammu Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC).
The bus service may prove beneficial for women and girl students as they are expected to make best use of the exclusive and secure facility.
The ladies special buses flagged-off from Jammu today will run on hourly basis and Regional Transport Officer, Jammu and General Manager, JKSRTC would monitor the service regularly. These buses will initially ply from Panjtirthi to Gandhi Nagar-Shastri Nagar, Panjtirthi to Bohri-Anand Nagar and Panjtirthi to Bantalab-Roopnagar.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said after the huge success of the experiment in Srinagar, the government has decided to provide similar facility to the women commuters in other cities and towns of the State, besides increasing the frequency of services in the two capital cities.
“With this initiative, I can now assure that my sisters and daughters need not to be concerned about intimidation in public buses,” she said and added that new buses are being purchased by the SRTC for being deployed as ladies special buses which will be equipped with state-of-the-art facilities.
Delighted by the launch of the services, women folk of the city termed the move as very appreciative. “The ladies special bus will definitely cater to the needs of all sections of women, mostly working and female students,” said a commuter adding; “It is certainly a relief for me and hundreds of other females to travel by this bus, which is only meant for ladies.”
Speaking on the occasion, Minister of State for Transport (Independent Charge), Mr Sunil Kumar Sharma said the Government has earmarked RS 5 crore for purchase of exclusive ladies special buses which will be deployed on various routes in the State.
Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Mr Naveen Kumar Choudhary, Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Dr Simrandeep Singh, IG Jammu, Mr Danesh Rana, DIG Jammu, Mr Ashkoor Wani, and officers of Transport Department, SRTC and district administration were present on the occasion.
