Safety measures for city buses on backburner after GM’s transfer

GURGAON: In the wake of the allegation that two girls were molested in a bus in Rohtak on November 30, the Haryana Roadways depot in Gurgaon had announced a series of reforms to make traveling by bus safer for women. Till now, though, authorities have failed to implement any of the plans.
Taking cognizance of the rising security threat to women passengers, former general manager (Gurgaon depot) of Haryana Roadways, Rohit Yadav, had said the depot would soon launch a roadways app, a women’s safety app and a helpline number.But Yadav has since been transferred and a haze hangs around his plans.
The city depot, with a fleet of over 200 buses (of which around 95 ply within municipal limits), is yet to provide guidelines for the state’s 20 districts. “I travel frequently to Delhi and Faridabad from Gurgaon, and expect city buses to be safe. You can’t expect people to board these buses otherwise. There should at least be night guards in them on long routes,” said Gurgaonite Anuradha Tiwari.
The newly-appointed general manager, Tirlok Chand, said, policies to make buses safer will be decided by the Panchkula head office. “Out here, we can only ensure city buses run properly, and breakdowns are repaired and sent back to respective routes without delay,” said Chand.
Chand is the 13th general manager in Gurgaon in the past 18 months. Predecessor Yadav was GM for only three months, while before him, Anju Chaudhary also spent the same time at the post.
“Decisions during my tenure were taken by the office of the general manager, not by an individual. Ideally, the successor should carry forward the incomplete tasks, but protocol doesn’t allow me to make any request to my successor,” said Yadav, who is currently posted at Narnaul as city magistrate.
Vimal.ChanderJoshi
@timesgroup.com