Mumbai: BEST plans SOS button, CCTV for women’s safety

MUMBAI: With New Year just a few days away, the BEST on Thursday announced a slew of measures being undertaken to ensure safe travel for women commuters in 2022.
“We have directed all new buses procured under wet lease — whether it is non AC CNG bus or an AC electric bus — to be fitted with two cameras. This will also apply to wet lease buses in the fleet at present and existing BEST-owned buses,” said BEST general manager Lokesh Chandra.
While one CCTV camera will be near the front door, the other will be close to the rear door. This will ensure that the entire bus (along with occupants) will be filmed throughout the journey. The camera will act as a deterrent for criminals and mischief makers, Chandra added.
A second measure for women safety is the compulsory SOS button which BEST plans to install in its red buses. The SOS switch can be used in emergency by women commuters and it will alert the control room, police etc, sources said.