In a move to ensure the <keyword id="22162496" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="safety-and-comfort-of-women" source="keywords">safety and comfort of women</keyword> during office hours, the <keyword id="22162495" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="West-Bengal-transport-department" source="keywords">West Bengal Transport Department</keyword> is set to introduce two <keyword id="22162497" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="exclusive-ladies-special-buses" source="keywords">exclusive ladies' special buses</keyword> in Kolkata starting June 25, a senior state official said on Monday. The buses will depart from <keyword id="22162498" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Howrah-Station-towards-Ballygunge" source="keywords">Howrah Station towards Ballygunge</keyword>, covering parts of central and south Kolkata, the official added. This service is designed to assist commuters from the districts along the Howrah-Bandel line, providing a convenient connection from the terminal station to their workplaces along the route during the morning rush hours, an official statement said. The non-AC buses, which will leave Howrah at 9.30 am and 10 am, will have <keyword id="22162499" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="women-conductors" source="keywords">women conductors</keyword>. Passenger boarding will be regulated at the gates to prevent jostling and ensure that only women commuters board the buses at each stop, the official said. The service will be inaugurated in the presence of <keyword id="22162501" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Transport-Minister-Snehasis-Chakraborty" source="keywords">Transport Minister Snehasis Chakraborty</keyword>. Bus timings have been coordinated with the arrival times of <keyword id="22162500" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ladies-special-trains" source="keywords">ladies special trains</keyword> on the Howrah-Burdwan line of Eastern Railway and the Howrah-Kharagpur line of South-Eastern Railway in the morning. "The term 'Ladies Special' will be prominently displayed on the route boards to deter others from boarding. Currently, we are introducing two buses, but we may consider adding more to the fleet in the future," the official added. The department also plans to introduce similar services from Sealdah station for women commuters. Asked about extending the Howrah-Ballygunge ladies special bus service to the afternoon rush hours from Ballygunge Station, the official said, "We are considering the proposal." Previously, ladies special bus services were introduced in 2013 but were discontinued after some time. "Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Transport Minister Snehasis Chakraborty are committed to continuing this service, which aligns with various <keyword id="22162502" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="womens-empowerment-schemes" source="keywords">women's empowerment schemes</keyword> of the state and aims to enhance the safety and security of women using <keyword id="19919009" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="public-transport" source="keywords">public transport</keyword>," the official added. Tapan Bandyopadhyay, spokesperson for the Joint Council of Bus Syndicate, welcomed the initiative, stating, "We support any such move by the state government." Sayantani Roy, a commuter from Srirampur, expressed her relief. "I often face harassment while traveling in crowded buses to my workplace at Rasbehari Crossing. Traveling in a ladies special bus will provide much-needed respite. However, we hope these buses will also be available during the afternoon hours."

West Bengal transport department to launch women special buses

New Delhi, June 3 (IANS) At least 233 people have died and over 900 injured in a tragic rail accident involving Coromandel Express and the SMVP-Howrah Superfast Express on Friday night, in one of the worst <keyword id="61376" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="train-accidents" source="Orion">train accidents</keyword> in India in last decade. Multiple agencies are still trying to rescue the passengers from the mangled train coaches. Here is a list of some major train accidents that has taken place in last 15 years. 1. 2010, Jnaneswari Express: At least 148 passengers of the Mumbai-bound express train died after a few coaches got derailed between Khemashuli and Sardhia stations of South Eastern Railway after midnight May 28, 2010, and toppled on the adjacent tracks. A goods train coming from the opposite direction within a few minutes ploughed through the coaches. More than 200 passengers were injured. It was alleged that Maoists had damaged the tracks which led to the tragedy in West Bengal. 2. 2010, Uttar Banga Express and Vananchal Express: On July 19, 2010 the Uttar Banga Express and the Vananchal Express rammed into each other in West Bengal's Sainthia leaving about 63 dead and injuring over 165 people. 3. 2011, Chhapra-Mathura Express: On July 7, 2011, Chhapra-Mathura Express collided with a bus near Etah district in Uttar Pradesh. In the accident, 69 people died and many were severely injured. The accident took place at around 1:55 a.m. at an unmanned level crossing. The train was running at high speed and the bus was dragged for about half a kilometre. 4. 2012, Hubli-Banglore Hampi Express: On May 23, 2012, the Hubli-Bangalore Hampi Express collided with a goods train near Andhra Pradesh. Following the mishap, four coaches derailed, and one of them caught fire, killing about 25 passengers and charring several others. 43 people were left injured in the accident. 5. 2012, Tamil Nadu Express: On July 30, 2012, a coach of Delhi-Chennai Tamil Nadu Express caught fire near Nellore, leaving more than 30 people dead. 6. 2014, Gorakhdham Express: On May 26, 2014, the Sant Kabir Nagar area of Uttar Pradesh, the Gorakhdham Express headed towards Gorakhpur collided with a halted goods train near Khalilabad station, leaving 25 dead and more than 50 injured. 7. 2015, Janata Express accident: A major accident took place in the Janata Express travelling from Dehradun to Varanasi on March 20, 2015. Over 30 people were killed and around 150 others injured when the engine and two adjoining coaches of the train derailed near Bachrawan Railway Station in Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh. 8. 2016, Patna-Indore Express: 19321 Indore-Patna Express derailed near Pukhrayan, Kanpur, on November 20, 2016, killing at least 150 people and injuring more than 150 others. 9. 2017 Kalinga-Utkal Express accident: On August 19, 2017, the Kalinga Utkal Express running between Haridwar and Puri met with an accident near Khatauli in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh. 14 coaches of the train derailed killing 21 passengers while 97 were left injured. 10. 2017, Kaifiyat Express: On August 23, 2017 nine train coaches of the Delhi-bound Kaifiyat Express derailed near Auraiya, Uttar Pradesh, causing at least 70 injuries. None of the passengers died in this train accident. 11. 2022, Bikaner-Guwahati Express: On January 13, 2022, at least 12 coaches of the Bikaner-Guwahati Express derailed in West Bengal's Alipurdar, in which 9 people died and 36 were injured. Even one of Indian Railways premium train Rajdhani Express met one of its worst fate in 2002. The 2301 Howrah-New Delhi Rajdhani Express derailed near Rafiganj station between Gaya and Dehri-on-Sone stations in Bihar at 10.40 p.m. killing over 140 people after 14 coaches of the plunged into the Dhawa river on the night of September 10, 2002. The Railways has been focusing on the safety of train passengers in last few years and has upgraded the railway tracks and also installed a device named 'kavach' to save trains from head on collision. The Railways also removed all the unmanned level crossings on its broad guage network. However, Friday's accident involving the Coromandel Express and the SMVP-Howrah Superfast Express trains has put the spotlight once again on track safety despite several efforts by the Indian Railways.

Major train accidents that India witnessed in last 15 years

The air quality in <keyword id="6354925" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="kolkata">Kolkata</keyword> turned 'very poor' on Wednesday night with the pollution levels in the city breaching the 300 mark for the first time in recent months, a WBPCB official said. Measures are being taken to bring down the pollution levels, he said. The <keyword id="2071721" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Air-Quality-Index">Air Quality Index</keyword> (AQI) in Kolkata was recorded at 343, which falls in the 'very poor' category, at the green zone Fort William automated air monitoring station at 11 pm, according to the West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) official. An AQI between 0-50 is considered 'good', 51-100 'satisfactory', 101-200 'moderate', 201-300 'poor', 301-400 'very poor' and 401-500 'severe'. An AQI above 500 falls in the 'severe plus' category. The Ballygunge air monitoring station recorded an AQI of 330 at 11 pm, the official said. The AQI at the Anand Bihar station was marginally better at 275, which falls under the 'poor' category, around the same time. A 'poor' AQI means breathing discomfort for most people on prolonged exposure. "We are taking several steps to contain air pollution in Kolkata like sprinkling water at construction sites, stopping movement of over 15-year-old commercial vehicles in the cities of Kolkata and Howrah and banning coal-based ovens in roadside food stalls," the official said. "Let's hope the results will show in the coming days," he said. SUS DIV DIV

You Searched For "Howrah Station towards Ballygunge" and got 3 results

West Bengal transport department to launch women special buses

PTI

Major train accidents that India witnessed in last 15 years

IANS

Kolkata's air is now as bad as Delhi as it dips to 'very poor' category

PTI