HMR’s plans for a gender-safe Metro!

The arrival of Hyderabad Metro Rail is viewed with a lot of anticipation from every section of Hyderabad. In an era where ineffective public transport systems have plagued the city’s growth, Metro is nothing less than a boon. One of the main features of Hyderabad Metro is its emphasis on a gender-safe Metro because it recognizes the need where the transport system is not only modern and world-class but also boasts of high safety standards for women, especially taking into account the numerous instances of sexual violence against woman.

In a globalised world, it has become imperative for women to travel at any time in the day to fulfill job and personal responsibilities and they increasingly become a prey to stalkers and other anti-social elements. In this regard, HMR conceptualizes some key features, which is integrated into the safety paradigm of the Metro project.

This includes provisions of closed-circuit cameras, both for visible and invisible surveillance, which can give a sense of assurance as surveillance can deter troublemakers. There will also be separate facilities for frisking and scanning where women not only feel safe, but it can also aid in easily detecting any weapons carried by miscreants into coaches and stations. There is also a provision for separate coaches for women, which is part of measures being planned for making the Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) really gender safe. Efforts are on to deploy uniformed personnel and plainclothesmen from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), including women officers that would keep a strict watch over metro stations along with private security guards.

The footage from closed-circuit camera will be continuously monitored from the Operation Control Centre (OCC), which is coming up at the Uppal depot where the information is disseminated quickly and security personnel can attend any contingency within seconds. In view of the Delhi gang-rape incident, HMR has embarked on these plans while also inviting suggestions from women across the spectrum to make travel safer. The suggestions were discussed at a Women’s Conclave held in March with participation from businesswomen, NGOs and academicians, woman IAS and IPS officers. The ideas from the conclave were presented to the HMR technical team for implementation during the process of designing coaches and stations. There are even efforts to encourage women entrepreneurs in establishing food courts and shopping centers as part of this project.