Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Tashkent Metro may consider introducing designated carriages for women as the network expands and its rolling stock is renewed.
Technical constraints and the structure of passenger flows currently prevent the practice from being introduced on existing lines. Yuldash Yusupov, deputy head of Tashkent Metro, made the remarks on 3 November during a meeting with media representatives at the Content Preparation Centre.
According to the metro official, passengers have submitted requests for separate carriages, including through social media. However, the initiative cannot be implemented under current conditions.
Yusupov said that appropriate arrangements could be considered when planning new metro sections and purchasing train sets. He also noted that women account for approximately 40% of Tashkent Metro passengers.
The official believes that separating carriages by gender could help reduce incidents of inappropriate behaviour and harassment targeting women.
Women-only carriages are already used in the public transport systems of several countries, including India, Egypt, Brazil, Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Japan.
In some countries, these carriages operate on a permanent basis, while in others they are available only during certain hours or on specific days. Regulations may also allow women to travel in them with boys of primary school age.
