On the eve of International Women’s Day, in a move to bolster the security of women passengers, the Delhi government has announced a pilot project under which state-run buses would be installed with Panic Alarm Systems.
Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot said on the occasion that panic alarms would be the third line of defence to ensure women’s safety. “Our government has deployed bus marshals in all Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses and installed CCTV cameras in 200 buses on a pilot basis. By March 2019, the three initiatives will be scaled up to cover all DTC and cluster buses,” Mr. Gahlot said.
The pilot for the Panic Alarm System, according to the Delhi government, has been launched in five cluster buses of the Rajghat-2 depot, plying on route 522.
The project is being implemented in collaboration with a Bangalore-based NGO, Project Durga, which works on women’s safety and gender equity in public spaces.
The drivers and conductors covered under the project have been trained in operating and responding to the panic alarm system according to a set protocol. “Each bus is equipped with four panic buttons that cover the entire length of the vehicle. If any of the buttons is pressed, a loud beeping alarm will be activated for 40 seconds,” a transport department official said. On hearing the alarm, the driver would stop the bus. Meanwhile, the conductor will identify the location of the button being pressed and intervene.
If the situation isn’t minor and cannot be addressed on the spot, the conductor will immediately call the depot manager, who will contact a PCR van.
