The bus marshalling scheme was launched by the Delhi government in 2015. Photo Credit: File photo
In recent weeks, several public buses in the capital operated by the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) have been departing from their respective depots without marshals. This is in contrast to the Delhi government’s Bus Marshal scheme, launched in 2015 by the Transport Department to improve the safety of women in public buses in Delhi.
As of October 2022, Delhi has over 7,320 buses (CNG and electric combined) under its city bus transport fleet. At least two marshals are attached to each bus for an eight-hour shift every day.
In December 2022, the Delhi government’s transport department filed an affidavit in the Delhi High Court stating that “12,238 bus marshals are deployed in DTC and cluster buses for the safety of women passengers”. Of these, 1,438 are women marshals.
However, the reality on the ground is different from this.
“In recent weeks, I have noticed that not all buses come with marshals. I feel safer if marshals are present,” said 25-year-old commuter Supriya.
Karanjit, 26, who has been working as a bus marshal since graduating from college in 2019, said the number of buses without marshals was on the rise. “It seems they [authorities] Bus marshals have been installed instead of cameras being installed inside the buses. If someone is sexually harassing female passengers, will the cameras intervene? No, just let the marshals control the situation,” Mr Karanjit said.
When reached for a comment, AAP MLA and petition committee chairman Akhilesh Pati Tripathi told The Hindu that marshals are present in most of the buses on the roads. He, however, said that the Finance Department had stopped the funds coming for the salaries of the marshals sometime back. “The matter was discussed in the assembly, where officials of the finance department were pulled up. Funds should not have been blocked,” Mr Tripathi said. He said that the matter is being resolved gradually and the marshals are being paid on time. Women’s safety is the first priority of the AAP government and we are installing CCTV cameras, panic buttons, bus marshals in all buses.