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A security personal walk passes in front of Pink City Bus for ladies at the during the flag of ceremony of City Pink Bus and City Bus Service in Dimapur, Nagaland on Monday, September 17, 2018. Photo by Caisii Mao[/caption]
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P Paiwang Konyak, Minister Transport & Civil Aviation & Railways & Land Resources, Government of Nagaland along with officials during the flagging of ceremony of City Pink Bus and City Bus Service in Dimapur, Nagaland on Monday, September 17, 2018. Photo by Caisii Mao[/caption]
Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, Sep. 17: In a move that will enhance travel experience of women commuters in Nagaland’s commercial hub Dimapur and capital Kohima, the state government on Monday inaugurated women-only bus service called “City Pink Bus,” a first of its kind in the state and perhaps in the whole of northeast.
Minister for Transport & Civil Aviation & Railways & Land Resources, P Paiwang Konyak said while inaugurating the City Pink Bus that there were no instances of women being raped, harassed or ill-treated in Dimapur city buses in the past but the communication service exclusively for ladies was introduced to facilitate and support them as some might not be comfortable sitting with men.
“Naga society respects women and this is one area where we want to facilitate women so that they come out of their kitchen and do the necessities,” said Konyak. He however said that the pink bus services will be available only in Kohima and Dimapur.
The chairperson of Nagaland State Commission for Women, Dr. Temsula Ao told
Eastern Mirror that the government has addressed special needs of women so that women could travel from place to place with ease and dignity.
“I hope that the standards of the buses are maintained at all times and hoping that more buses will be introduced in the future,” Ao stated.
The Nagaland State Transport (NST) has also resumed city bus service for the general public more than a decade after the service was stopped. The bus services between Dimapur and Chumukedima will officially start on September 18.
Konyak told reporters the bus service was the initiative of the PDA government and thanked the minister for Urban and Municipal affairs for handing over the old Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM) buses to the NST department so that the NST could renovate and provide bus services to the general public.
“It was the shortfall of buses that the city bus service was stopped. However, this time we managed to get 14 JnNURM buses from the department of Urban Development that had been lying damaged or unrepaired. Out of the 14 buses we have already repaired five buses and we will also be repairing the remaining ones,” he said.
The minister also clarified that the pink bus would not be plying between Dimapur and Kohima but only within Dimapur and Kohima. He disclosed that senior citizens and physically challenged passengers will not be charged any fare. “We are also considering giving free services to female students if they come forward with a request,” he admitted.
There are four pink buses as of now — two each for Dimapur and Kohima.
Konyak disclosed that the buses will initially run on trial basis, but the department would introduce more if it turns out to be successful. He also wanted to send across the message to the people that they should be responsible for the success of the bus services.
Informing that the pink buses will be driven by male drivers and conductors as of now, the legislator said, “If women are ready to come forward, we are ready to employ female drivers and conductors for the pink buses.”
The bus services will be made available between NST station, Dimapur, and Chumukedima, comprising of 22 stops.
“Buses will stop only in the stoppages and commuters should make sure that they board or de-board the bus in the stoppages only. About two minutes will be given for commuters to board or de-board in the stoppages,” Konyak said.
“Tickets should be purchased from the right person; it is a manual slip ticket which will be given by the conductors inside the bus. In cases of calamities and accidents, if a person has no ticket he will not be able to claim any compensation,” Konyak said adding that if any person is found indulging in malpractices one should immediately inform the matter to him so that action could be initiated against the perpetrators.
The secretary of Transport department, Kenilo Apon had earlier said that the pink bus service and the city bus service were introduced with an aim to ease the traffic in the city. He urged the law enforcement agencies, district administration, police, and the public to cooperate with the government so that these services would go a long way and make Dimapur free from traffic congestion.
