Men found sitting in women's seat in city buses to be fined

Bhubaneswar: To ensure the safety of women travelling in city buses, the authorities have decided to levy penalty on male passengers if they sit on seats reserved for the fairer sex, an official said on Wednesday

The decision in this regard was taken at a meeting between the Commissionerate of Police, Bhubaneswar-Cuttack, representatives of five local Bus Owners Associations, SPOs (special police officers) at Police Bhawan here on Tuesday.

The action will be taken in order to ensure the safe journey of women in the city buses, a senior police officer said, adding that it is often found that female commuters are subjected to harassment while travelling on buses.

The penalty amount has not yet been fixed, officials said. The meeting also resolved that an emergency toll-free number will soon be set up for women passengers to deal with any untoward incidents and safety while travelling in city buses.

“Sensitization of public transport stakeholders on gender-based violence against lady commuters. Thanks to #CRUT & Pvt Assns. office-bearers for their resolve to facilitate lady commuters safe travel,” an official twitter post of the Commissionerate of Police said.