Now Chennai MTC buses have a lot more women passengers than before!!
Posted on: 19/Mar/2022 9:36:26 AM
An increase of about 50% in footfalls in women passengers in the Chennai city buses has been the topic for discussion for many now. This has been mainly due to the TN government�s free bus travel scheme for women. This scheme was launched by the chief minister of Tamil Nadu in July 2021 and it grabbed many eyeballs at that time. Sensational information is that due to this scheme there has been an increase of women passengers in the buses from 40% to 61% now. The official data has confirmed that more than 40lakhs women travel in 7300 buses every day.
In the MTC buses plus in various buses in other cities, there has been increase in the footfalls of transgender and differently able persons also. In those areas where there has been huge demand, more MTC buses were operated. More buses would be needed for improving the efficiency. This was according to Mr. Rengachari, transport activist. As per the Central governments standards, the city must have 60buses per one lakh population. The bus strength of Chennai Corporation is 3300 and an additional 1000 buses would be needed. It is superb to note that an amount would be sanctioned to buy as many as 2213 new diesel buses and 500 electric buses.
Universally accessible buses must only be procured by MTC and other corporations and this was as per the order from Madras High Court. Funding from bank in Germany would help in purchasing the electric buses. For the sake of safety for women passengers in MTC buses, 2500 buses would have CCTV cameras installed. This was as per the promise made by the state transport minister Mr. R.S. Rajakanappan. This promise is not yet fulfilled till now. It is learnt that till last week 2300 MTC buses were operated and nearly 7 lakhs travelled in them.
