Delhi Minister Satyendar Jain has committed to lighting up dark spots around metro stations, an online platform for social change said on Wednesday.
Online platform Change.org said the Delhi Public Works Department Minister had responded to the online petition, called #LightUpDelhi, and had committed to lighting up of dark spots within 1 km radius of metro stations.
The petition was started by city-based architect Bhavya Singh, who had also appealed to the Delhi government to prepare a report on the condition of street lights around key public areas and install solar LED lamps on all walkways and footpaths within a kilometre of all metro stations.
‘Expeditious action’
Stating that Mr. Jain had assured “expeditious action” to light up the dark spots, the online platform quoted the Minister saying, “I have taken note of the campaign regarding dark spots around metro stations in Delhi. It is very unfortunate that she [Ms. Singh] was made to feel threatened and unsafe near a metro station only because there was no light. To make you all feel safer while travelling by the Delhi Metro, my Ministry will ensure the commissioning of a fresh survey on dark spots.”
Ms. Singh had said in her petition, “I was walking to Nehru Place metro station when I was stalked, eve-teased and almost molested because the darkness of the evening gave shelter to the perpetrators. To ensure that nobody else faces any threat of molestation, rape or robbery outside the Capital’s metro stations, #LightUpDelhi asks for a complete overhaul of all dark spots outside metro stations.”
While Ms. Singh met the Minister on Tuesday, Change.org said Mr. Jain had also assured that a review will be done of dark spots that were identified in previous surveys.