Women safety: 1,000 home guards deployed in Delhi buses

NEW DELHI: As many as 1,000 home guards were deployed in Delhi Transport Corporation ( DTC) buses in order to ensure safety of passengers, especially women.

The AAP government aims to deploy 2,000 home guards in buses in first phase and thereafter, the strength of the force will go up to around 5,000.

"Already 1,000 home guards have reported to DTC from where they will be deployed on different checking beats throughout Delhi. A group of 4-5 home guards will also be associated with at least one DTC Traffic Supervisor staff.

"The checking groups will be deputed in DTC terminals and main bus stops with the aim to check the buses for safety of travelling passengers," DTC spokesperson R S Minhas said.

The government has also decided to install CCTV cameras in public transport buses to keep a close watch over any attempt of violence against women or eve-teasing.

"As a pilot project, CCTV cameras have already been installed in 200 buses. The result of which would be reviewed in a couple of months and accordingly, decision would be taken to replicate the experiment in the entire fleet," said a senior Delhi government official.

To make commuting by women in public transport safe, Delhi government has made it mandatory for all public transport vehicles, including taxis, to install GPS system for tracking of the vehicles.