New Delhi: A video on social media exposed the incident of a bus driver in Delhi not stopping for women passengers at bus stops as they would have availed free travel provision. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal expressed displeasure over this on Thursday and ordered action against the driver. He also appealed to all the drivers to follow the rules and stop at all the designated stops. The statement said that he instructed the Transport Minister to take necessary steps to ensure that such incidents do not recur in future. He also stressed on the urgent need for sensitization of bus drivers to ensure safety and convenience of all passengers.
The statement said that as soon as the Chief Minister was informed about the incident, prompt action was taken to resolve the matter. The bus driver involved in the incident was also immediately relieved of his duty, the statement said.
There are complaints that some drivers do not stop the bus on seeing women as the ride for women is free. This will not be tolerated at all. Strict action is being taken against this bus driver. pic.twitter.com/oqbzgMDoOB— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) May 18, 2023
In an appeal to bus drivers in Delhi, Kejriwal called for their cooperation and urged them to stop at all designated stops without missing a beat. He recognized the important role bus drivers play in the daily lives of commuters and stressed the importance of following guidelines and regulations.
The CM tweeted, “I appeal to my brothers and sisters who operate 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 correct.” ”
I appeal to all the driver brothers and sisters to stop the bus at the fixed bus stand. There have been some complaints that some drivers do not stop the bus on seeing women. this is not right. https://t.co/jG7uOIkW3X
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) May 18, 2023
Transport Minister Gehlot called a departmental meeting with the aim of sensitizing bus drivers and other staff members. He also acknowledged previous complaints about buses not stopping in the presence of women, explaining that action could not be taken in such cases as the service department was not under the jurisdiction of the government.
However, having regained control of the services, the government is committed to addressing such issues promptly and effectively, to ensure a positive travel experience for all.
Gehlot said, “It is confirmed that the bus driver responsible for the incident has been identified and taken off duty pending further investigation. Another driver has been deputed in the same bus. The government strongly condemns such behavior and emphasizes its complete unacceptability.” ,
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He appealed to the bus passengers to make videos and share if they see any such irregularities. Gehlot held an important meeting with senior officials of the Transport Department and Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) to discuss and address the grievances of bus drivers who failed to stop women at bus stops.