Andhra Pradesh

Citizen speak

Good to see that you have taken the initiative regarding enforcement of seat quotas in city buses of Hyderabad. Very recently there was a video clipping telecast in a news channel showing men travelling in a ladies compartment and also, first class coaches being used for second class passengers. Unfortunately, while MMTS commuters are increasing, subsequent phases of MMTS are yet to get materialised.

The State government or the Railways is doing nothing to improve the services. People from Bolarum are longing to get MMTS extended to their area because they are also not part of the Hyderabad metro rail.

The forthcoming railway budget will decide the future of MMTS of twin cities, the best and cheapest mode of public transport available.

Ravi. S,

Sitaphalmandi

There should not be any reservation for women in public transport. I lived in many countries like US, Singapore, China and Hong Kong and travelled in State run buses.

At peak hours the travelling in any country by bus is same as in India, especially in Hyderabad but nowhere, there is gender specific reservation in buses!

In fact, there is no reservation for the old or the disabled. But people offer seats to the disabled, elderly and pregnant woman voluntarily. Scenario here is very different. When one male travels from a terminal, he sometimes gets a seat reserved seat of women. Why should he vacate it when a woman comes after so many stages of travel?

As for as public service is concerned, he or she is customer for that service. There should not be any discrimination between customers. Women are travelling in shared autos sitting beside men. They demand separate seats in bus only because there is reservation. Many times I find that women refuse to give seat for elderly or disabled women.

Raman,

Madhura Nagar

To prevent males from occupying seats reserved for women and the physically-challenged, either in busses or MMTS, special squads may be formed for surprise checks. The punishment should not be less than a week behind the bars. If authorities implement these measures, within no time they can control this ever increasing ‘epidemic’.

Kamal Sani,

Rajivnagar

Though I am not a frequent traveller in buses it is my experience that the seats reserved for ladies are generally occupied by gents. But, most women prefer to keep silent for fear of argument and its resultant embarrassment.

Only those who are firm get the seats. Even if we make this system of allotting some seats for women mandatory and fining the defaulters, it would be not be successful in its entirety as no law is effective unless the people cooperate.

It is somewhat like smoking banned in public places yet we continue to find smoking in buses/trains rampant. People suffer in silence for fear of being involved in unnecessary arguments at the cost of their own health. Attitudinal transformation is the only antidote to these kind of situations because law cannot be made against ‘boorish’ or ’bad’ manners.

K. Mahabub Ali,

Hakimpet

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