Officials to warn defiant public vehicle operators : kathmandu

After a month of awareness to ensure “reserved seats” in public transportation vehicles, the traffic police have started warning the four-wheelers failing to assign the seats by labelling them.

According to Metropolitan Traffic Police Division spokesperson Pawan Giri, the awareness campaign has enabled women to demand their seat. “Many women are aware and lay claim to the seats assigned to them,” said Giri.

Sajha Bus was exemplary in following the system, while Nepal Yatayat was reluctant to reserve seats for women and the differently-abled. Traffic officials say about 120 vehicles are found to be flouting the seat

allocation.

Last week, after a month of awareness campaign, the MTPD charged 177 vehicles for failing to prioritise women and the disabled on the assigned seats. However, the MTPD has softened its stance now, by only warning vehicle operators.

“The vehicles were charged as they defied the instruction, even after numerous warnings. We have charged only those vehicles that failed to secure seats for women and the disabled after three warnings,” said Giri. The MTPD has assigned seats for the needy with labels on around 4,500 vehicles plying Valley routes.

The vehicles not reserving the seats are fined between Rs 200 and Rs 1,000. According to the Transport Management Act, big vehicles such as buses have to secure four seats for the disabled and two for women. Similarly, smaller vehicles such as microbuses have to assign two seats for the disabled and one for women.

However, Giri thinks it is civic sense of the people to abide by these rules and make the campaign successful.

“It’s for the passengers to demand their rights,” he said.

In order to ensure “reserved seats” for women and the differently-abled, traffic officials together with women rights activists launched the campaign last month. The campaign was in response to numerous complains about women facing abuses in public transportation and to build a disabled-friendly system.

Earlier this month, the MTPD conducted awareness campaign on “reserved seats” in major areas such as Koteshwor, Kalanki, Singha Durbar, Maharajgunj, Kamalpokhari, Durbarmarg, Jawalakhel, Kalimati, Gaushala, Bouddha and Bhaktapur.


Source : E-Kantipur , 19 June 2013