After Shakthi Yojana launch, men ridership surge, alongside free travel for women; reports
Bengaluru: One of the newly formed Congress government’s flagship schemes, the ‘Shakthi’ Yojana which came into effect earlier this week, has shown a very positive response. In the meantime, alongside people complaining about the crowding, reports also indicate that the ridership of men travelling in the state transport has also shown a steep surge.
Quoting notes of a number of urban mobility experts, The New Indian Express reported that there has been a sharp rise in the overall ridership of passengers including men who have to pay for their travel.
As per experts cited by the TNIE, they opined that there could be a possibility of two kinds of shifts following the launch of the Shakthi scheme. Firstly, the women who previously preferred other modes of transport, veered to the state transport. Subsequently after the implementation of the scheme there was a substantial surge in ridership in the form of euphoria towards the complimentary initiative.
ALSO READ: Kalaburagi head constable's murder case, accused shot in leg while attempting to escape
According to the TNIE report, the average daily ridership of BMTC stands at 27.34 lakh. However, data provided by the transport utility reveals that on June 12, the total ridership reached 34.94 lakh, with 17.57 lakh women passengers. On June 13, the ridership increased further to 40.17 lakh, including 20.57 lakh women. Similarly, on June 14, the total ridership was 33.44 lakh, with 16.85 lakh passengers being women, and on June 15, it reached 33.28 lakh, with 17.67 lakh women passengers. These figures indicate a rise in the number of male passengers.
Meanwhile, in a video released by a Twitter user named @shaandelhite , a KSRTC conductor was seen stating that “Because women are going out with family and so more men are travelling by bus. Earlier, it was 7-8k collections per day but now it is up to 16k per day,” he added.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
13 lakh litres of 'Rail Neer' supplied to train passengers daily: Government
New Delhi (PTI): Approximately 13 lakh litres of packaged drinking water -- 'Rail Neer' -- are being supplied to train passengers across the railway network daily, the government informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply on Wednesday.
Apprising the Lower House about the Indian Railways' endeavour to provide safe and potable drinking water facilities at all stations, the government also provided zone-wise details of the water vending machines (WVMs) installed there.
"To ensure the quality of drinking water being made available at the railway stations, instructions exist for periodical checking and required corrective action to be taken.
"Regular inspection and maintenance of drinking water facilities is carried out and complaints are attended to promptly," Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said while responding to a question raised by BJP MP Anup Sanjay Dhotre seeking to know the supply of drinking water at railway stations across the country
"Complaints regarding deficiency in services, including water supply, are received through various channels such as public complaints, web portals, social media, etc. These complaints are received at various levels, including the Railway Board, zonal railways, division office, etc.," Vaishnaw said.
"The complaints so received are forwarded to the concerned wings of Railways and necessary action is taken to check and address them. As receipt of such complaints and action taken thereon is a continuous and dynamic process, a centralised compendium of these is not maintained," he added.
Providing zone-wise details of water vending machines, the minister said 954 such machines have been installed across railway stations.
"The Indian Railways also provides safe and affordable packaged drinking water bottles -- Rail Neer -- approved by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in trains and at stations," Vaishnaw said.
"Approximately, 13 lakh litres of Rail Neer are being supplied per day to the travelling passengers in trains and at stations across the Indian Railways network," he added.
