Srinagar, Jan 10: In a ground-breaking move towards gender inclusivity, the Srinagar Smart City initiative has unveiled specialized services dedicated to the well-being of female passengers. The initiative places paramount importance on the safety and comfort of women, children, and elderly individuals or those with physical disabilities. The decision aims to create a safer and more comfortable commuting experience for women in Kashmir.
Iram Farooq, a student, said, “we appreciate this initiative. Having designated seats for women not only provides a sense of security but also encourages more women to utilize public transportation without hesitation.”
Sheikh Sahiba, a businesswoman said, “The Srinagar Smart City initiative is a step towards gender inclusivity. The reserved seats for Women in public buses make our journey safer and more comfortable.”
Daily commuter Rafiya Mir said “As a woman, I’m grateful for the reserved seats on Srinagar buses. It’s a positive step towards ensuring a safer and more comfortable travel experience for us, and having designated seats in Srinagar buses brings a sense of security”
Anuj Malhotra General Manager of Planning and Urban Development at Srinagar Smart City told Rising Kashmir that these services have been created with a focus on women’s safety and comfort. Women’s safety and comfort are paramount, followed by the safety and comfort of children, as well as elderly individuals or those with physical disabilities. “We prioritize the comfort and safety of these three categories when providing these services. Obviously, those who are differently-abled or use wheelchairs due to physical disabilities are the most important consideration in our minds when planning any kind of project or public venture.”
He further added,” My point is that women should be kept safe, and in case they don’t feel safe, we have equipment in the buses for raising alarms. We have installed cameras in buses, stop buttons, and help buttons, which act as alarms. In fact, there are ticket supervisors inside the buses who are also trained to handle complaints from women. So, if there is any kind of discomfort within the bus, I would encourage women not to feel fearful. They should openly raise alarms using any means they prefer, and we will encourage and support them in doing so. We aim to make the service absolutely safe for everyone, especially for women, so they never feel concerned about traveling at 12:00 at night. This is our goal, and our bus services will reach a level where they feel completely free from fear.
