WomenSafety – Delhi Night Travel Concerns Deepen After Bus Assault Case
WomenSafety – The alleged gangrape of a 30-year-old woman inside a private sleeper bus in Delhi’s Mangolpuri area has once again raised serious questions about women’s safety and the condition of late-night public transport in the national capital. The incident has triggered concern among students, office workers, activists and residents who regularly travel after dark.
Delhi Continues to Record High Crimes Against Women
Data from the National Crime Records Bureau’s Crime in India 2024 report shows that Delhi remained the metropolitan city with the highest number of crimes against women for the fourth consecutive year. The report recorded 1,058 rape cases in the city during 2024, highlighting the continuing challenge faced by law enforcement and civic authorities.
The latest case has intensified debate around how women navigate the city at night, especially after public transport services become limited. Despite Delhi hosting concerts, cultural events, festivals and commercial activities late into the evening, many women say returning home safely remains one of their biggest concerns.
Limited Public Transport After Late Evening
Women commuters say the lack of dependable transport after 11 pm leaves them with very few options. Metro services usually begin shutting down between 11 pm and 11.30 pm, while several public buses also reduce operations around the same time. As a result, many passengers are forced to depend on app-based cab and bike services.
However, frequent users claim these services are often expensive and sometimes unreliable. Several women shared concerns about drivers cancelling rides unexpectedly, asking for additional cash payments, or refusing to travel to certain locations during late hours. Some commuters also reported uncomfortable or inappropriate behaviour during night journeys.
Bhavreen Kandhari, co-founder of the citizens’ group Warrior Moms, said many women cannot afford high transport fares every day simply to ensure safer travel. According to her, affordable and secure transport remains inaccessible for a large section of commuters.
Students and Working Women Share Safety Fears
Students and professionals travelling between Delhi and nearby cities such as Gurugram say they routinely take extra precautions while travelling alone at night. Many rely on live location sharing with friends or family members throughout their journey.
Angela Sareen, a Delhi University student, said she regularly updates close contacts while commuting after dark because it provides a sense of security. Another student, Manya Chaudhary, described late-night travel after concerts and public events as stressful, adding that even the final metro service can sometimes feel unsafe.
Working women also highlighted concerns over poorly lit streets, isolated bus stops and limited police visibility in several areas of the city during late-night hours.
Demands for Stronger Accountability and Monitoring
Following repeated complaints about women’s safety, social organisations and student groups have urged authorities to introduce stricter monitoring measures. Amita Singh, a core member of Warrior Moms, said she had written to the Delhi Transport Department seeking stronger enforcement, better grievance redressal systems and improved accountability mechanisms for drivers and transport operators.
Student organisations have also demanded increased police deployment in vulnerable areas. Sarthak Sharma, state secretary of ABVP Delhi, called for stronger patrolling in isolated locations to improve public confidence and deter crimes against women.
Teacher Arrested in Separate Child Assault Investigation
In another disturbing case reported from west Delhi, police arrested a female teacher from a private school in Janakpuri in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a three-year-old student. Authorities stated that the case involves a 57-year-old school caretaker accused of raping the child during school hours.
According to police officials, the incident came to light after the child’s mother filed a complaint at Janakpuri Police Station on May 1. The woman alleged that the assault took place on April 30, which was reportedly the second day of the child’s admission to the school.
Police confirmed that the arrested teacher would be produced before a court as part of the ongoing investigation.