The Telangana Road Transport Corporation’s initiative of introducing sliding doors to have separate sections for men and women in city buses doesn’t appear to have deterred men from entering the women’s section, occupying their seats and boarding the bus from the front door.
 
Though women passengers commuting on RTC buses had lauded the introduction of sliding doors, there hasn’t been much of a change in the attitude of men. Drivers and conductors complain that they have to keep shouting instructions to men to follow the rules.
 
“The front door of the bus is meant for women, senior citizens and physically handicapped only, but we are tired of reminding men to not use that door,” said Ramesh, who was driving a bus from Mehdipatnam to Secunderabad.
 
Lakshmi, conductor of a bus plying between Mehdipatnam and Uppal, said, “Men start arguing if we ask them to move to their section and give excuses. Most of the times, the problem is with middle-aged men who won’t listen to requests and start feigning health issues if forced. A system of inspection and penalty is needed.”
 
“Most of the times, when I ask a man to vacate a seat designated for women, he will mumble abuses or won’t oblige. Also, sliding doors have hardly stopped men from entering the section, standing close and ogling at us,” said Dedeepya A., who works with a software consultancy.