New Delhi: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has deployed more than 5,100 women staff during day shifts to manage toll booths at over 1,140 toll plazas across the country’s National Highways and Expressway network. The initiative is aimed at promoting women empowerment and
inclusivity in toll operations while improving the overall experience for commuters traveling on India’s highway infrastructure.
The move places women in frontline operational roles at toll plazas, a decision authorities believe will help create a more efficient and user-friendly environment for highway users. According to NHAI, the initiative is expected to encourage smoother interactions at toll booths and reduce the likelihood of disputes between commuters and toll operators. Officials also say the deployment highlights a broader push to bring more women into the infrastructure and transport sectors, where their participation has traditionally been limited.
The decision was taken after deliberations and discussions with various stakeholders including fee plaza operators and key industry associations such as the National Highways Builder Federation (NHBF), Highway Operators Association of India (HOAI) and the All India User Fee Contractors Federation (AIUCF). All toll operators have unanimously agreed to deploy women staff during day shifts for User Fee collection at the toll plazas. Over 5,100 female toll staff have already been deployed and more are expected to join in the near future.
NHAI will closely monitor the implementation of this initiative to ensure compliance. The initiative will help to generate employment opportunities for women, especially in rural and semi-urban regions, while strengthening their participation in the National Highway infrastructure sector and has generated employment in these remote areas.
As part of the program, NHAI will also facilitate specialized training to the deployed female staff, particularly those from rural areas. The training will focus on areas such as courteous behavior with National Highway users, handling emergency situations, basic safety protocols and maintaining efficient Toll Plaza operations. Authorities believe that this structured capacity-building effort will help improve service quality while ensuring a safe and professional working environment for the staff.
By encouraging greater involvement of women in frontline operational roles, NHAI aims to promote gender inclusivity and social empowerment, alongside improving service delivery at the National Highway Toll Plazas across the country.
Comments
Post a Comment