Delhi plans ‘ladies special' buses as New Year's gift

In 2010 the DTC would press into service its new fleet of Ladies Special buses. The Ladies Special buses would have lady drivers and conductors.

The scheme for all-woman buses have got the approval of Delhi Transport Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely. The corporation already has on its rolls 35 lady conductors while some lady drivers are undergoing training.

The launch of such a service, it is felt, would come as a boon to women commuters, especially working women and students, who are often prey to harassment on normal city buses.

To start with, such buses would be on routes where women commuters travel in large numbers, particularly during peak hours.

While the DTC is open to the idea of going in for fresh recruits, it has already decided to consider giving jobs to women under compassionate job quota. Under the existing rules, sons get jobs on compassionate grounds in the event of the death a member of its staff. From now on, in the absence of a son for a deceased driver or conductor, his daughter will get the job.