Women patronage up by 20 percent in town buses, Chennai

By: WE Staff | Friday, 16 July 2021

Since Monday, the distribution of free tickets for women in government city or town buses across the state has increased their footfall by roughly 20%.

While women accounted for 40% of commuters in these buses during normal times, more than 78 lakh women travelled in 7,291 buses in the last three days, accounting for nearly 60% of total patronage, according to official data.

Transport minister R S Rajakannappan stated that the government planned to instal CCTV cameras in 2,500 Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) buses for Rs 71 crore using Nirbhaya funds to ensure the safety of female commuters in Chennai.

According to activist R Rengachari, the transport department has made similar announcements in the past during budget sessions. “However, nothing has happened so far. “We are hopeful that the new government will make it a reality,” he said.

Footfalls of even transsexuals (5,741) and differently abled (51,615) in MTC and other city buses have increased since Monday, with MTC deciding to operate more buses in high-demand areas.

Until last week, nearly seven lakh people took the 2,300 MTC buses every day. This week, 400 more buses were operated, and the number is expected to rise in the coming week as more relaxations are implemented, according to a senior MTC official.

In terms of buses to Puducherry, TNSTC Villupuram operates 364 buses to the union territory, with nearly half of them departing from Koyambedu Bus Terminals.

The transport minister also stated that plans are in the works to restart water bottle production at the Institute of Road Transport (IRT) in Gummidipoondi. This IRT unit produced approximately 80,000 one-litre ‘Amma' water bottles, which were sold at bus stops across the state for $10 each. However, sales in Tamil Nadu have ceased since last June.

Along with one-litre bottles, Rajakannappan is investigating the possibility of producing half-litre bottles.