New Delhi: Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu conducted a high-level review of safety arrangements for women travelling in DTC buses on Tuesday, calling for stronger security measures across the public transport network in the national capital and directing officials to improve coordination among various agencies responsible for commuter safety.
The Delhi LG women safety DTC buses review comes amid sustained concerns about the safety of women commuters in the capital, with the LG stressing that women must feel secure not only while travelling on buses but throughout their entire journey, including the often overlooked last-mile commute to their final destination.
During the meeting, Sandhu directed officials to strengthen existing safety mechanisms and ensure better coordination between the Delhi Transport Corporation, Delhi Police, and other agencies involved in managing public transport security across the city.
Delhi LG Women Safety DTC Buses: Key Measures Proposed
As part of the proposed measures under the Delhi LG women safety DTC buses review, women police personnel and home guards may be deployed on select routes that witness heavy usage by female passengers. The initiative is intended to enhance visible security presence and create a safer travel environment for women across the city, particularly on routes identified as having higher footfall among women commuters during peak hours.
The LG also emphasised the need to integrate panic button systems already installed in DTC buses with emergency response services, so that authorities can react swiftly in case of distress situations. Officials were instructed to improve monitoring systems and ensure the effective functioning of surveillance infrastructure across the bus fleet, addressing concerns that existing systems may not be fully operational or responsive in real time.
The meeting also assessed the current functioning of CCTV cameras installed in buses, the deployment and effectiveness of bus marshals, and the operational readiness of control centres responsible for monitoring the network and responding to incidents as they occur.
Last-Mile Connectivity and Integrated Transport Solutions
A significant component of the Delhi LG women safety DTC buses review focused on last-mile connectivity, an area that has long been identified as a vulnerability in women’s safety during daily commutes. The administration explored ways to involve cabs, auto-rickshaws, and e-rickshaws in providing safer transportation options, particularly in areas where public transport access remains limited or bus stops are located at a distance from residential and commercial areas.
Last-mile connectivity gaps have historically been linked to increased safety risks for women, as commuters are often required to walk through poorly lit or isolated stretches to reach their final destination after disembarking from a bus. By exploring integration with other modes of transport such as auto-rickshaws and e-rickshaws, the administration is aiming to close this gap and provide women with safer, more continuous travel options from origin to destination.
Discussions during the review also covered the possibility of expanding the use of smart mobility cards, which would allow women commuters to use a single integrated payment system across different modes of transport, making travel more convenient and potentially encouraging greater use of public transport options among women who might otherwise rely on less safe alternatives.
Push for More Women in Transport Workforce
Highlighting the importance of women’s participation in the transport sector itself, the LG encouraged authorities to increase the recruitment of female staff, including drivers and conductors, in public transport services. This aspect of the Delhi LG women safety DTC buses review reflects a growing recognition that women’s safety in public transport is linked not only to security measures but also to the visible presence and participation of women within the transport workforce.
Increasing the number of women drivers and conductors is seen as a measure that can have a dual benefit, providing employment opportunities for women while also making the overall travel environment feel more inclusive and secure for female passengers who may feel more comfortable in the presence of women staff during their commute.
Why the Delhi LG Women Safety DTC Buses Review Matters
The Delhi LG women safety DTC buses review reflects the administration’s broader efforts to strengthen women’s safety and improve the overall public transport experience in the national capital, a city that has faced persistent scrutiny over the safety of women using public transport, particularly during late evening and night hours.
Delhi’s public transport network serves millions of commuters daily, and women’s safety on this network has been a recurring subject of public concern and policy attention for over a decade, particularly following high-profile incidents that drew national attention to gaps in transport security. The latest review signals a renewed administrative focus on closing these gaps through a combination of technology, personnel deployment, and structural improvements to the transport ecosystem.
The success of the measures proposed during the Delhi LG women safety DTC buses review will depend significantly on effective implementation and sustained coordination between the multiple agencies involved, including the DTC, Delhi Police, and private transport operators who would need to be brought into any expanded last-mile connectivity framework. Officials are expected to follow up on the directives issued during the review in the coming weeks as the administration works to translate the proposed measures into concrete action on the ground.
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