The incident of a bus failing to stop for women commuters has drawn flak from Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal. The CM received a video through social media where it was evident that a Cluster Bus did not stop for some female commuters as they would have availed the free travel provision. Expressing deep concern over the incident, the Chief Minister gave instructions for action against the bus driver who did not stop the bus on purpose. Additionally, he directed Transport Minister Shri Kailash Gahlot to take necessary steps to ensure that such incidents do not recur in the future. The CM also stressed the urgent need for sensitisation of bus drivers to ensure the safety and convenience of all passengers. Within an hour of the incident coming to Chief Minister’s notice, swift action was taken to address the matter. The concerned bus driver involved in the incident was also immediately taken off duty.
In a heartfelt appeal to all bus drivers in Delhi, the CM called for their cooperation and urged them to halt at all designated stops without fail. Recognising the pivotal role played by bus drivers in the daily lives of commuters, the Chief Minister emphasised the importance of their adherence to guidelines and regulations.
Responding to CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal’s proactive approach, the Transport Minister called a departmental meeting aimed at sensitising bus drivers and other staff members. Highlighting the significant strides made in women’s safety and accessibility, Transport Minister Shri Kailash Gahlot, stated that more than 112 crore women have availed free bus travel in public buses so far. The Delhi Government has taken all necessary steps to prioritise the safety and well-being of our passengers, he said. He also acknowledged previous complaints regarding buses not stopping when women were present, explaining that in those instances, action could not be taken as the Services Department was not under the government’s jurisdiction. However, after gaining control of Services, the government remains committed to addressing such issues promptly and effectively to ensure a positive commuting experience for all.
A video circulating on social media captured an alarming incident that unfolded on Thursday, where a bus driver in Delhi failed to halt the bus despite the presence of women at a bus stop. The video highlighted concerns that some drivers may overlook women passengers due to the provision of free travel. Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal expressed his concern regarding the matter, vowing that such behaviour would not be tolerated under any circumstances. The CM took to Twitter to share the video, stressing the urgency of the issue and emphasising that complaints about buses not stopping for women have been received before. In response, he declared that strict action would be taken against the driver involved in this incident. Recognising the severity of the situation, the Chief Minister promptly instructed Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot to take decisive measures against drivers who fail to stop the bus when women commuters are present and prevent similar incidents from recurring in future.
The Chief Minister has also made a heartfelt appeal to all bus drivers and other staffers of the Delhi Transport Department to treat all passengers, including women, with sensitivity on this issue. “I appeal to my brothers and sisters who are operating our buses to stop the bus at the designated bus stand. There have been complaints that some bus drivers do not stop on seeing women. This is not right,” the CM tweeted.
Following Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal’s directives, the Transport Minister swiftly responded by instructing the officials of the Transport Department to take immediate action. “It has been confirmed that the bus driver responsible for the incident has been identified and removed from duty pending further investigation. A replacement driver has been assigned to the same bus. The government strongly condemns such behaviour and emphasises its complete unacceptability,” Shri Kailash Gahlot stated. In light of this incident, the Transport Minister also appealed to all bus passengers to promptly capture and share videos if they witness any similar irregularities.
Shri Kailash Gahlot shared details of the incident, stating that on Thursday morning at approximately 11:20 am, Shri Arvind Kejriwal tweeted a video that clearly depicted four to five female passengers attempting to stop the bus by waving their hands. “Unfortunately, the driver failed to halt the bus. Such complaints have been previously received, and in response to the seriousness of the matter, the driver was identified and immediately relieved of duty. This issue is of utmost concern, as under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal, the Delhi Government has implemented comprehensive measures to ensure the safety and comfort of women during their travel. It is worth noting that more than 112 crore women have availed free travel on our buses thus far,” he said.
Later in the day, Transport Minister Shri Kailash Gahlot held a crucial meeting with senior officers of the Transport Department and Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) to discuss and resolve complaints regarding bus drivers failing to stop for women at bus stops. Expressing dissatisfaction with these reports, the Minister instructed the officers to take immediate action to prevent such incidents from occurring. He emphasised the importance of sensitising all bus drivers, conductors, and staff to ensure the comfort and convenience of women passengers during their journey. The Minister reiterated that no woman should face any difficulties while travelling on buses in the future, warning that strict action would be taken against any future complaints.
Notably, under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal, the Delhi government has implemented a policy of free bus travel for all women on Delhi government buses. Women can avail themselves of this benefit by boarding any government bus from any bus stop, where the bus conductor issues a pink ticket to them. This initiative by the Kejriwal government aims to empower women and ensure their accessibility to public transportation. Clear instructions have been given to all bus drivers to ensure the comfort and safety of women during their bus journeys.
Introduced in 2019, this scheme has witnessed remarkable participation, with over 112 crore women utilising the pink pass on Delhi government buses. Currently, Delhi boasts a fleet of 7,379 buses, including both DTC and cluster buses. On average, these buses transport 4.1 million passengers daily, with approximately 31 percent of them being women.
