'Will ensure women's safety at all cost'

NEW DELHI: In response to recent rape incidents in the country, the Delhi government has already appointed 2,200 marshalls at the DTC buses for the security of women commuters. CCTV cameras will be installed in all buses by this year.

Deputy CM Manish Sisodia alleged that the government do not get much support from the Delhi Police but the government will ensure the security of women at any cost.

A senior government official said afternoon onwards, the deployment of marshals, consisting of civil defence volunteers and Home Guards, is mandatory in all DTC-run buses. About 2,200 marshals have been deployed to prevent crimes, especially against women, in the buses, according to an official document.

In Banda Bahadur Marg (BBM) depot, 37 marshals have been deployed, and there are 70 marshals in Wazirpur depot.

"In all 39 bus depots of the DTC, sufficient numbers of marshals have been deployed. As per the government's direction, deployment of marshals is must in buses afternoon onwards," the official said.

Recently, the Delhi government also launched a pilot project for equipping public buses with 'panic alarm system' to ensure the safety of women passengers.

"Panic alarms in buses will add the third line of defence to ensure women safety in Delhi buses. Our government has already deployed bus marshalls in all DTC buses and installed CCTVs in 200 DTC buses on a pilot basis.

By March 2019, we will be scaling up all these three initiatives to cover all DTC and Cluster buses thereby guaranteeing a safe and harassment-free bus ride for Delhi's women, the minister said.

The panic alarm system will also be integrated with the bus GPS location so that every time the alarm is pressed, officials at DIMTS Kashmere Gate get an immediate alert, he added.