Amitabh Pandey
Indore is actively integrating women into its expanding clean-energy public transportation workforce. With the introduction of India's first clean energy-powered bus corridor, the city is poised to create new avenues for women's representation and empowerment, all while curbing air pollution.
Indore residents now experience a pleasant commute along the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) corridor, one of the pioneering clean energy-powered bus routes in India. Stretching over 11.3 kilometers, the BRTS corridor in Indore is dedicated solely to buses, meticulously designed to enhance the efficiency and reliability of public transportation. It boasts segregated lanes, intersection priority, a Pink Bus exclusively for women, and upgraded passenger amenities. Spanning from Rajiv Gandhi Square to Niranjanpur, the BRTS corridor features 20 stops.
According to Dr. Prakash Doraiswamy, Director of Air Quality at WRI India, "A Clean Air Catalyst study has found that emissions from diesel and petrol vehicles are significant contributors to air pollution in Indore. To improve air quality in the city, it is essential to address vehicle emissions." Electric buses operating along this corridor emit no smoke, significantly reducing pollution levels. They offer a quieter ride, mitigating noise pollution and making breathing easier for commuters.
Manoj Pathak, CEO of Atal Indore City Transport Service Limited (AICTSL), the company managing the BRTS corridor, and the Additional Commissioner of Indore, elucidates, "Since March 15, 2024, the BRTS Corridor in Indore has transitioned into a fully green, mobility-friendly pathway. Out of the 59 buses traversing the corridor, 30 are electric, while the remaining 29 run on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), replacing diesel counterparts. This marks a significant stride toward enhancing Indore's air quality."
Pollution stemming from cars, trucks, and buses poses a significant challenge in Indore, compounded by the steady rise in vehicle numbers each year. In a survey conducted with support from Clean Air Catalyst’s partner, Internews, a staggering 76.7% of respondents reported health issues resulting from vehicular pollution during their daily commutes. Vehicular emissions, laden with harmful gases like carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, and suspended particulate matter, disproportionately affect women's health.
Nisha Sharma, a driver of the pink buses, highlights the detrimental impact of diesel emissions on women's health, particularly for pregnant women who endure breathing difficulties, coughing fits, and headaches. Female passengers of the BRTS corridor find solace in the assurance of a more comfortable, convenient, and safer journey. The provision of blue e-buses for all passengers and pink buses exclusively for women, although introduced in June 2021, had until March 2024, operated on diesel. Sharma emphasizes the sense of security and contentment women derive from seeing fellow women behind the wheel, even though she has also driven blue buses for both genders, noting some men's appreciation of female drivers.
Dr. Mala Singh Thakur, the Public Relations Officer of AICTSL, underscores efforts to engage women in Indore's public transportation operations. Initiatives such as appointing women at ticket windows and subsequently integrating them as bus drivers and conductors on the BRTS corridor reflect this commitment. Thakur also reveals plans to introduce an additional 50 electric buses to complement the existing 30 on the BRTS, with an additional 150 expected under the Prime Minister's National E-Bus Scheme within the next few months.
Indore is actively establishing 47 charging stations for electric buses, predominantly powered by solar energy. These stations will cater not only to buses but also electric rickshaws and two-wheelers, while even traffic signals along the BRTS will operate on solar power. Electric buses exemplify how Indore's efforts to enhance air quality can simultaneously bolster women's participation. Ritu Narwale, Madhya Pradesh's first female bus driver, highlights the expanding opportunities for women in bus operations, courtesy of companies like NueGo, which operates electric buses between Indore and Bhopal, among other cities.
Narwale and Sharma's participation in the "Women in Clean Air" workshop in December 2023 underscored their commitment to addressing air pollution's adverse effects on women's health and exploring avenues for increased female involvement in policy solutions. The workshop, hosted by Clean Air Catalyst and funded by USAID, with co-leadership from the World Resources Institute and Environmental Defense Fund, facilitated discussions on gender empowerment and training.
During a meeting with drivers of the new pink electric bus fleet, U.S. Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, commended their role as trailblazers, inspiring other women to lead independent lives. Indore Mayor, Pushyamitra Bhargav, echoed this sentiment, affirming the city's dedication to combating vehicular pollution by embracing clean energy solutions, particularly through solar energy utilization.
Ends.

( Writer is a freelance journalist , Mobile no 9424466269 )

Source : Agency