'Women Only' Signs To Be Removed From Pune Metro Stations, Here's Why

While uniformity lacked in allotting reserved coaches for women, officials from the Pune Metro said on October 5 that “Women Only” signs will be removed from all stations.

The decision has been taken amidst inconsistency in placing the “women only” signboard across all stations. As the Metro travels from Ruby Hall Clinic to Vanaz, the sign boards are marked from the first coach on some platforms and from the last coach on others.

'Women Only' Signs To Be Removed In Pune Metro

At the Ruby Hall Clinic Platform, the women-only sign is marked on the first couch of the metro, which is moving towards Vanaz station.

However, the same coach turns into a general coach at the next metro station, and the women’s only signboard now features on the platform of the last coach. Again, at Ideal Colony station, the sign switches from the last coach to the first coach.

As per Indian Express, a regular passenger expressed disappointment over the lack of a proper coach that’s designated for women in the Pune Metro. She said that no one follows the women-only sign placed on the platform, so the sign should be put inside the coach as well. Another passenger said that security personnel should be deployed near the women’s coach so the men do not enter the compartment.

A spokesperson for the Pune Metro, Hemant Sonawane, told the Indian Express that the “women only” sign will be removed from all the stations, adding that there is no need for reservations for women passengers right now as the footfall is low.

He also stated that there hasn’t been a survey on the footfall of male and female passengers yet, but they would plan it later, and coaches will be reserved in the future when the need arises.

Why Women Need Reserved Compartments

I’m a Chennai-based woman who sometimes commutes by metro, and I’ve seen women preferring to take the "women only" pink-coloured coaches compared to general coaches.

Given that we come across several reports of harassment, abuse, assault, molestation, and groping on the metro train, it’s no wonder that women feel comparatively safer in women-only coaches. So, I believe that women would appreciate it if the appropriate steps were taken by the authorities to prioritise their safety and comfort by organising reserved coaches for them.

Suggested Reading: New Amaravati Station Becomes "Pink Station" With All-Women Staff