Delhi Metro to have 'ladies only' seats

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Metro on Monday complied with a long standing demand of female commuters and announced that all its trains would have seats reserved for women.

“Some women are facing problem in the Metro and they have complained to (Delhi chief minister) Sheila Dikshit and our managing director E Sreedharan. Hence the reservation,” DMRC spokesman Anuj Dayal said.

Every Metro train has 186 seats of which 16 seats, or nine percent, will be reserved for women and will carry stickers saying “for ladies only”. According to official figures nearly 30 percent of Metro commuters are women.

“Each Metro coach already has four seats reserved for the elderly and the physically challenged and there are special spaces for wheel chairs in the coaches at both ends also. We are sure that with this decision some women will get the benefit,” Dayal added.

Every day over 700,000 passengers commute through the 68-km network of Metro. Construction works are on to add 120 km more before the 2010 Commonwealth Games.