
For the Railways, security for women is priority.
The Indian Railways is taking women’s safety very seriously. Marking 2018 as the year of women’s security, the Railways is implementing steps to make women feel safer while travelling on trains. In November 2017, they launched an app that ensures women’s safety in Mumbai’s locals. Read about that here.
According to sources quoted in NDTV, they have decided to reserve coaches exclusively for women and place them in the centre of the train, instead of being relegated to the end.
These coaches shall also be painted differently, to make them easily identifiable. CCTV cameras, and wire meshes to cover the windows are more measures being discussed. The coaches shall have a mixed crew, for the ticket checkers, or Railways Protection Force (RPF) personnel. The wire meshes should prevent miscreants from entering the ladies’ coaches through windows.

A committee compromising Railway Board Chairman Ashwani Lohani, Member (Traffic) Mohd Jamshed, and other senior officials took a policy decision regarding this issue, the report by NDTV said. The committee also wants the stations managed by women to increase from three to 100, in the next three years. General Managers will earmark 10 stations from every zone for this purpose. Infrastructure facilities at railway stations, and trains with separate toilets and changing rooms for women are also expected.
You may also like: Railways to Replace Polymer Plates with Eco-Friendly Ones on Premium Trains!
We are sure these measures will improve the security of female passengers. However, a change in mindset is also essential. Until then, these preventive measures should instil faith in those who depend on the Railways for their regular commute!
(Edited by Shruti Singhal)