Decision makers:
Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
Pratap Sarnaik, Transport Minister, Maharashtra
Madhuri Misal, State Minister of Transport, Maharashtra
Sanjay Sethi, (IAS), Additional Chief Secretary, (Transport) & Chairman, MSRTC Corporation.
Demands:
Increase the number of street lights and CCTV cameras at bus stations across Maharashtra
Enhance police security at the bus stations after 9 PM, similar to Mumbai local trains.
Create separate waiting rooms for women and reopen the Hirkani rooms dedicated to breastfeeding convenience at all bus stations across the state.
Conduct regular inspections of overnight buses halted at the depots
A 26-year-old woman was raped at Pune’s Swargate bus station, one of Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation’s (MSRTC) largest bus depots, on February 25, 2025. The assault occurred early in the morning, merely 100 meters from a police station, inside a bus. The woman was waiting to board a bus to her hometown in Satara when the accused approached her, addressing her as ‘didi’. He misled her by claiming that the Satara-bound bus was stationed at a different platform, took her to a vacant Shiv Shahi AC bus parked nearby and raped her.
The incident has raised serious concerns about women’s safety and accessibility to public transport. If it can occur in a bustling city like Pune, what does that mean for places like Kolhapur, Nashik, Satara, or Nagpur? The issues across the state remain the same – poorly lit bus stations, lack of adequate security at bus stations especially after sunset, and unmonitored areas where buses are parked.
Women who travel by bus have to constantly navigate an environment of insecurity. Female staff at bus stations often avoid night duties due to this fear. While major cities do have police presence at bus stations, it is scarce in smaller towns and often non-existent in some districts, making women feel vulnerable and exposed in difficult situations.
Most bus stations in Maharashtra lack designated waiting areas for women. While some have "Hirkani" rooms for breastfeeding mothers, these are frequently locked and inaccessible, making them practically useless. The absence of basic facilities and security measures suggests that women's safety is not being prioritised.
This problem is not exclusive to Pune alone. Lack of safe public transport is a statewide issue. We urge the authorities to conduct a thorough safety review of bus stands across Maharashtra and take immediate steps to ensure women can travel without fear!
A safe public transport infrastructure will not only enable women to travel to and fro, but will also foster financial independence and social mobility.
Sources
Decision makers:
Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
Pratap Sarnaik, Transport Minister, Maharashtra
Madhuri Misal, State Minister of Transport, Maharashtra
Sanjay Sethi, (IAS), Additional Chief Secretary, (Transport) & Chairman, MSRTC Corporation.
Demands:
Increase the number of street lights and CCTV cameras at bus stations across Maharashtra
Enhance police security at the bus stations after 9 PM, similar to Mumbai local trains.
Create separate waiting rooms for women and reopen the Hirkani rooms dedicated to breastfeeding convenience at all bus stations across the state.
Conduct regular inspections of overnight buses halted at the depots
A 26-year-old woman was raped at Pune’s Swargate bus station, one of Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation’s (MSRTC) largest bus depots, on February 25, 2025. The assault occurred early in the morning, merely 100 meters from a police station, inside a bus. The woman was waiting to board a bus to her hometown in Satara when the accused approached her, addressing her as ‘didi’. He misled her by claiming that the Satara-bound bus was stationed at a different platform, took her to a vacant Shiv Shahi AC bus parked nearby and raped her.
The incident has raised serious concerns about women’s safety and accessibility to public transport. If it can occur in a bustling city like Pune, what does that mean for places like Kolhapur, Nashik, Satara, or Nagpur? The issues across the state remain the same – poorly lit bus stations, lack of adequate security at bus stations especially after sunset, and unmonitored areas where buses are parked.
Women who travel by bus have to constantly navigate an environment of insecurity. Female staff at bus stations often avoid night duties due to this fear. While major cities do have police presence at bus stations, it is scarce in smaller towns and often non-existent in some districts, making women feel vulnerable and exposed in difficult situations.
Most bus stations in Maharashtra lack designated waiting areas for women. While some have "Hirkani" rooms for breastfeeding mothers, these are frequently locked and inaccessible, making them practically useless. The absence of basic facilities and security measures suggests that women's safety is not being prioritised.
This problem is not exclusive to Pune alone. Lack of safe public transport is a statewide issue. We urge the authorities to conduct a thorough safety review of bus stands across Maharashtra and take immediate steps to ensure women can travel without fear!
A safe public transport infrastructure will not only enable women to travel to and fro, but will also foster financial independence and social mobility.
Sources