Taking cognisance of the growing number of complaints from women commuters against male passengers, the Pune railway division introduced a new 24x7 helpline on Tuesday. All the calls made on the number will be answered at the Railway Protection Force (RPF) headquarters at Pune railway station.

Commenting on the initiative, Yogendra Singh, PRO for Pune railway division, said, “On average, we receive over 25 complaints from female passengers. Most of them are related to male passengers travelling in compartments reserved for ladies and use of abusive language upon confrontation. RPF personnel will keep records of the complaints they receive on the helpline and take appropriate action against those harassing women commuters.

He added that women passengers travelling in local trains and long-distance trains — up to Baramati, Lonavla and Daund — can make use of the helpline.

“The number will be displayed at all major stations, including Pune, Shivajinagar, Pimpri, Lonavla and Daund. We will install hoardings and distribute leaflets for the same,” Singh said.

How it works
If a woman calls on the helpline and gives details of her journey, the RPF headquarters will intimate the nearest RPF or GRP station to check the situation in the train from which they had received a complaint.

80,000
No of commuters travelling between Pune and Lonavla daily