No bus staff shall discriminate against any passenger and disrespect towards women will not be tolerated. To ensure strict action against superstitions and discriminatory practices such as denying women first-passenger entry, Minister of Commerce & Transport Bibhuti Bhushan Jena has directed the State Transport Authority (STA) to take strong measures.
Based on these directives, a marathon inspection was conducted today at Cuttack’s Netaji Bus Terminal.
The government has also decided to extend similar inspections and awareness campaigns across all bus terminals in the state.
Following the minister’s orders, STA Secretary Chinmayee Biswal, Deputy Transport Commissioner Biranchi Narayan Adhikari team visited the Cuttack bus terminal on Tuesday morning. They monitored over 20 buses across different routes, closely observing the behaviour of bus staff towards women passengers.
Additionally, they interacted with several women travellers at the terminal to understand their experiences regarding discrimination.
STA Secretary stated, “As per government instructions, team conducted an inspection at the Cuttack bus terminal today. According to the Motor Vehicles Act, any form of discrimination against passengers is a punishable offense. The regulations also include provisions for penalties and permit cancellations. However, today’s survey revealed satisfactory feedback.”
Transport Commissioner Amitabh Thakur emphasized, “Women are revered as deities in our culture. Ensuring their dignity is not just STA’s responsibility but a duty for society as a whole. No one should mistreat women. If such incidents come to our notice, strict legal action will be taken as per government directives”. He also highlighted the importance of awareness initiatives alongside inspections and called for support from social organizations and bus owners’ associations.
Principal Secretary of the department, Usha Padhee, reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring the safety and dignity of passengers. She confirmed that such surprise inspections will continue in the future to strengthen women’s safety in public transport.
Commerce and Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena has welcomed the STA’s inspection process and expressed his happiness. He stated, “Ensuring passenger safety is the responsibility of the STA. Especially when it comes to the dignity of women, our government is committed to taking proactive measures. Any form of disrespect towards women is unacceptable.” He has instructed the STA to expand such inspection programs further.
During today’s inspection, bus owners and staff present at the site welcomed the initiative. Many bus staff mentioned that they never engage in any misconduct. They emphasized that passengers are like gods to them, regardless of whether they are men or women and they always extend a warm welcome to all.
