KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
Chief Minister, Ms Mehbooba Mufti Saturday flagged-off all women special bus service in Jammu. The ladies special bus service is being run by Jammu and Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC).
A similar bus service was launched in Srinagar in April this year and is running successfully, with working women and female students making best use of the exclusive and secure facility, an official spokesperson said this evening.
The ladies special buses flagged-off from Jammu today will ply on hourly basis and Regional Transport Officer, Jammu and General Manager, JKSRTC would monitor the service regularly. These buses will initially ply from Panjtirthi to Gandi Nagar-Shastri Nagar, Panjtirthi to Bohri-Anand Nagar and Panjtirthi to Bantalab-Roopnagar.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said after the huge success of the experiment in Srinagar, the government has decided to provide similar facility to the women commuters in other cities and towns of the State, besides increasing the frequency of services in the two capital cities.
“With this initiative, I can now assure that my sisters and daughters need not to be concerned about intimidation in public buses,” she said and added that new buses are being purchased by the SRTC for being deployed as ladies special buses which will be equipped with state-of-the-art facilities.
Delighted by the launch of the services, women folk of the city termed the move as very appreciative. “The ladies special bus will definitely cater to the needs of all sections of women, mostly working and female students,” said a commuter adding; “It is certainly a relief for me and hundreds of other females to travel by this bus, which is only meant for ladies.”
Speaking on the occasion, Minister of State for Transport (Independent Charge), Mr Sunil Kumar Sharma said the Government has earmarked RS 5 crore for purchase of exclusive ladies special buses which will be deployed on various routes in the State.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister, Ms Mehbooba Mufti today conducted surprise check of several health institutions in Jammu to take first hand appraisal of the healthcare facilities available there.
Beginning with the inspection of Government Medical College Hospital Jammu, the Chief Minister inspected the out-patient department, emergency, general wards, cancer ward, radio-diagnostic facility and drug stores.
The Chief Minister interacted with the patients and their attendants and enquired about the quality of healthcare facilities being provided to them.
Expressing dismay over the heaps of waste lying in and around the premiere hospital, the Chief Minister asked the Principal Government Medical College, Jammu to ensure that proper cleanliness is maintained around the hospital. “I should not see this kind of dirt around the hospital, next time I come here,” she said.
The Chief Minister ensured about the infrastructure deficiencies, if any, at the hospital and directed the Principal GMC Jammu to ensure that best possible medicare facilities are provided to the patients.
The Chief Minister said among other key sectors, health sector is one of the priority area for the Government and as a part of the Government’s initiative to provide best possible healthcare facilities at the doorstep, Model Hospitals are being established in every constituency of the State. She said two such Model Hospitals have already come up at Anantnag and Basohli.
Ms Mehbooba said two AIIMSs are also being established in the State besides five new medical colleges coming up at Kathua, Anantnag, Baramulla, Doda and Rajouri. She said with the commissioning of these health institutions the healthcare facilities in the state would be augmented to a great extent.
The Chief Minister also inspected Rajiv Gandhi Hospital at Gangyal Jammu and took stock of the healthcare facilities there.
