Kochi Pubic Transport Day Campaign Celebrated

KOCHI:
Highlighting the theme of ‘Women and Public Transport’, the third edition of the Kochi Public Transport Day campaign was celebrated here on Wednesday (March 28).
The campaigners marched from Rainbow Bridge, Marine Drive, to Lalan Tower, High Court Junction, holding placards that spread the message of promoting public transport and safe, accessible and convenient transport for women. The panel discussion that followed focused on the theme, ‘Going Places: Safety, Comfort and Convenience of Women in Public Transport’.
Besides shedding light on the challenges before women using public transport and working in the sector, the discussion put forth measures to making public transport women-friendly. The panellists included Monolita Chatterjee (architect/urban planner), Ajina Mohan (Kudumbashree District Mission representative), Aswathy Dilip (urban designer/senior programme manager, Institute for Transportation & Development Policy) and Namrata Khona (corporate trainer/consultant), and the session was moderated by Sara John (Senior Project Associate, Centre for Public Policy Research).
ater, the Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) honoured four metro passengers of highest patronage in the month of March with the ‘Shreshtasanchari Puraskaram’. Speaking on the occasion, APM Mohammed Haneesh (KMRL) emphasised safe and secure travel for women utilising various modes of public transport as the need of the hour. He added that promoting public transport by providing necessary comfort to women is of utmost importance in today’s world.
Felix K A, Chair of Young Indians (Yi) Kochi chapter, said that the success of public transport depended on how accessible and convenient it is for the public to use. “The same will hold true for encouraging women to use public transport. When women gain the confidence that public transport is safe, comfortable, convenient and accessible, families, not just women, will be willing and happy to travel by public transport.”
Rajesh Nair, Convenor of the Youth Forum of Kerala Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), stressed the need to ensure safety and security of women in public transport. He added that the public transport system should be ergonomically designed for women’s comfort and convenience. The third Kochi Public Transport Day is supported by KMRL, Yi Kochi chapter, Youth Forum of KCCI, and ITDP.