How about another 'only ladies' coach in the Metro?

More than two years after a coach was reserved for women in the Delhi Metro, the DMRC has received a proposal from the City government to keep one more coach exclusively for ladies.

In a letter from the chief minister, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has been asked to introduce two women’s compartments in eight-coach trains. A coach reserved for ladies has already been irking men who not only at times express their opposition but also continue to travel in it.

In 2012, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) penalised 10, 488 men for travelling in women’s compartment against 892 men in 2011. Often, some men stand in the ladies’ coach and criticise the decision of reserving a coach for women.

Metrolife talks to a few male commuters to know their reaction on the Delhi Government proposal of reserving one more compartment for women in eight-coach trains. We asked them are they OK if one more women are given more exclusive space in the Delhi Metro? Surprisingly, most of them say they are, with a few riders.

Ramesh Bajaj, a retired professional, says ladies sometimes travel alone and sometime with their male companions, so it is alright if they are given one more coach. “Its good for ladies. Young girls travel alone mostly and ladies sometimes travel with their husband and relatives,” he says. 

Chetan Sharma, a young professional, is also alright with it. “If two more coaches are being added in the train and one of them is kept for women only, it is fine. I am sure it will not burden the general compartments because women commuters will have more space of their own. Less number of them will travel in general coaches.”

Deepak Kumar, a college student, travelling right at the parting of ladies coach with general compartment, along with a young girl friend, says, “I don’t have any problem if one more coach is reserved for ladies. It seems, those who have a problem with this are not able to come to terms with it.”

Surprisingly, his friend, Apporva Jain, a student, says one coach is enough for ladies. “Most of the time you will see that ladies coach is empty and general compartments are over crowded. And women can travel in general coaches also but there are restrictions for men. It is better if two additional coaches in eight-coach trains are made general compartments.”

Senior citizens seem fine with an additional coach for women providing more seats are reserved for them in all compartments. Inderjit Dhamija says, “I think everybody will be OK with one more coach for women. We have to and we should accommodate women. But one coach should be reserved at the beginning of the train and the other at the rear.”

However, a spokesperson of the Delhi Metro says there is still some time before the proposal is finalised, if ever. “As of now, we have only four eight-coach trains on the entire network. By the end of 2013, almost all trains will be turned into eight-coach. And it depends on the necessity.”