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Journalism of Courage
Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik has directed an immediate security audit of all bus stands and depots across the state and ordered to appoint more female security staff at all the depots.
In the meeting held today among various departments in Mumbai after the rape incident occurred at Swargate bus depot, Sarnaik issued orders to prohibit such incidents in future.
The Indian Express covered the bus depot and found miscreants loitering inside abandoned parked buses to smoke, consume alcohol, and the team also found some used condoms. Now, the minister has ordered the removal of all abandoned buses from depots and stands by April 15.
Acknowledging the rising number of female passengers, Sarnaik proposed increasing the deployment of female security guards at bus stands. Additionally, he emphasized the urgency of clearing unregistered buses from bus stand areas, setting a firm deadline of April 15 for the task.
The minister also noted that the post of Chief Safety and Vigilance Officer in the State Transport Corporation remains vacant. He directed officials to appoint an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer to this position and to submit a proposal to the Home Department without delay.
During the meeting, Sarnaik stressed the need for advanced surveillance systems at bus stands and depots, directing that an AI-based CCTV system be installed at all ST bus stands. He also mandated the installation of CCTV cameras in newly acquired buses and the rapid implementation of GPS tracking across the fleet. To enhance security, he called for increased police patrolling at bus stands in coordination with local law enforcement.
Highlighting the role of depot managers, Sarnaik stated that they should reside at the depot premises to ensure round-the-clock supervision. He further instructed that all ST employees working at bus stands must wear identity cards to prevent fraudulent individuals from misleading passengers.
Sarnaik outlined additional security measures to be followed at all bus stands:
📌 Every bus arriving at a depot must be registered with the security guard on duty.
📌 Drivers and conductors must lock their buses properly before leaving.
📌 In regular (non-AC) buses, windows and doors must be securely closed.
📌 Security personnel must closely monitor suspicious individuals loitering near bus stands and take necessary action.
Sarnaik also underscored the importance of hygiene and passenger amenities at bus stops. He directed that toilets for women be constructed at every bus stand and that they should be spacious and well-maintained. Senior ST officials have been tasked with regularly reviewing cleanliness standards to ensure quality facilities for passengers.
“There can be no compromise on cleanliness. Passengers deserve quality facilities at bus stops,” Sarnaik asserted, instructing officials to prioritize both safety and hygiene in their efforts.
With these directives, the state government aims to significantly improve passenger safety and overall infrastructure at Maharashtra’s bus depots and stands.
These decisions were taken during a review meeting on women’s safety at bus stands held at the office of the Additional Chief Secretary (Transport). Key attendees included Additional Chief Secretary and Chairman of the ST Corporation Sanjay Sethi, Transport Commissioner and Vice Chairman & Managing Director (in charge) of the ST Corporation Vivek Bhimanwar, Joint Secretary Rajendra Holkar, and other senior officials.
