NTC to introduce App to minimize sexual harassment in buses

The National Transport Commission (NTC),  in a bid to minimize harassment of women in buses, is in the process of developing an App to be made use by passengers to lodge complaints.

Chairman of the National Transport Commission (NTC) Dr Dileepa Vitharan addressing a press conference on measures to reduce harassment of women in buses said that the measure was one step in ensuring their safety.

He said that discussions are also underway with the Police on introducing an alarm system via the App in the event of an emergency.

Dr Vitharana said they also plan to make it compulsory for the Private buses to install CCTV cameras which would also be useful improving security in buses.

Meanwhile Acting DIG Children and Women Abuse Investigation Range Renuka Jayasundara told the news conference that during the last year, they had received 2,785 complaints of sexual harassment of which 289 were in public transport and public places.

However, the highest number of complaints of sexual harassment were in houses where 1,852 complaints were received.

There were also  348 cases of sexual harassment via the Internet, 176 cases of sexual harassment in public roads, and 70 cases on office premises.

In 2023 the number of cases of sexual harassment was 2,252 while 262 were in public transport.