Kathmandu, Jan 5 (IANS): Nepal has introduced "women-only" buses in capital Kathmandu in a bid to check crimes against women.
On Sunday, four micro-buses which will ply on the Kalanki-Balkot route during office hours, were unveiled.
Kathmandu witnesses frequent incidents of harassment of women in public vehicles. Data provided by the World Bank in 2011 showed that 26 percent of the females who frequently commute in public buses faced physical harassment.
These buses are expected to operate from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. After the winter season, the vehicles are expected to operate from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. as well.
"This is a great initiative shown by the transport entrepreneurs to ensure ease for women commuters," said Tulasi Sitaula, secretary at Nepal's ministry of physical infrastructure and transport, who flagged off the bus service.
The 17-seat bus will ferry women along an 18 km route and charge a maximum fare of 28 Nepalese rupees (INR Rs 17.52).
Transport entrepreneurs said they planned to add more buses if the special service is successful in the preliminary phase.
"We have made investment in the service, so adding more vehicles will depend on the business," said Dharma Raj Rimal, Bagmati zonal coordinator of the National Federation of Nepal Transport Entrepreneurs.
The federation also plans to expand the service to all four corners of Kathmandu subsequently.
"We are looking for support from the government as well as the commuters to make this service better," Rimal said.
These buses, with women conductors will have female drivers soon, reports said.
Four years ago, a similar service was initiated for female students of Tribhuvan University but it lasted only for a month.
"We are more positive about the current route as it is long and can serve more passengers," Sitaula said.
The operators, however, seemed to be caught in a dilemma on whether or not they should let males, accompanied by women, board these buses.
"What if a husband and wife or a mother and son want to travel together? We are currently confused about that," Rimal said. "But for now, we will be entirely discarding male passengers," he clarified.