Three days back, I shared my story of eve-teasing outside Sector 10 Metro station and how unsafe I felt because of dimly lit roads outside the metro station. The incident shook me to the core and then I decided to bring it in the light. I took to Twitter to share my story. On July 3, I had raised the issue through a tweet but to my dismay, I did not get any response from any officials.
Metro station's entrance and the surrounding roads do not have proper illumination. Because of that, it is not really safe for any commuters. CitySpidey talked to many woman commuters, who have felt unsafe, faced eve-teasing and harassment near Metro stations due to lack of proper light.
Ritika Yadav, a commuter from Chattarpur said that she does not use Metro on her way back home as she feels it unsafe. “The area outside Chattarpur Metro station is deserted after 9 pm. Even e-rickshaws and auto rickshaws stop operating after 8.30 pm. The road is unsafe as drunk men start roaming around after dusk. When I commute by Metro, I call my husband to pick me up.”
“Outside the Sector 12 metro station in Dwarka, we have to hop on to a cycle-rickshaw or an auto rickshaw to reach the main road, which is at least 15 minutes away from the residential area. The stretch is poorly lit and gets deserted after 9 pm,” said Nitya Kakkar, a commuter from Dwarka.
CitySpidey also tried to talk to a lady who was waiting for her brother to pick her up at Jangpura Metro station. She was initially hesitant to talk to the reporter but she agreed to share her concerns when her brother arrived. “It is near impossible to find an auto in this area after 8 pm. I don’t feel safe taking a cycle-rickshaw as several snatching and eve-teasing cases have been reported in this area. While on my way home, I reach this place around 8 pm. Hence, I make sure to call my brother and ask him to pick me up,” she said.
Shreya Das, a commuter from Sector 12 in Dwarka said, “I used to get off at Dwarka Sector 12 Metro station between 8 and 9 pm. To keep in good shape, I used to walk to my home. It would take me 15-20 minutes. However, I had to give up on that habit, as some random cabs started following me on dimly-lit roads almost every night. Taking a rickshaw seemed to be the wiser thing to do. However, even the rickshaw pullers are mostly drunk at that hour and some even abuse and haggle over money. So, apart from some days, when I call someone in my family to come and pick me up, I have little option but to find a rickshaw-puller who looks the least drunk.”
Archita Bharadwaj, a commuter from Kailash Colony said, “Last month, I got down at Kailash Colony Metro station on an evening around 9 pm. It is the nearest Metro station to Sant Nagar area where I have been residing for the last six years. I didn't take a rickshaw as I wanted to walk to my home. The stretch from the Metro station to a crossing where the National Heart Institute is situated has some dark spots. I sensed two men following me in a car. I was scared but tried not to show it. I tried calling two friends but they didn’t pick up. I turned back to see the car still tailing me. I started walking faster and finally reached a spot where there were sufficient lights. It was then that the car vanished.”
Some women commuters, given the inadequate security, have given up their usual travel routes and have opted to take alternate longer routes. Tabassum, a postgraduate student at Jamia Millia Islamia, expressed her concerns over the inadequate lighting near Jama Masjid Metro station.
She said, “I generally take exit from Gate Number 2 at Jama Masjid Metro station, but in the late hours due to inadequate lighting and deserted roads, it becomes a place to drink alcohol for many people and also a place for harassment, robbery and molestation. For my safety, I took exit from Chawri Bazar Metro station and took a rickshaw to my home. It’s really scary to take the exit from Jama Masjid Metro station.”
The situation remains same despite Delhi Police conducting a security audit of Metro stations two years ago. The audit said that one-third of the Metro stations were unsafe, particularly for women.
