Free sanitary pads to women at all Noida Metro stations from March 8

Noida, India (Urban Transport News): Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC) which is currently being headed by IAS Ritu Maheshwari has taken a commendable step to facilitate and empower women metro commuters. Under the 'Nirmalaya' initiative, NMRC has installed sanitary pads vending machines at its all 21 stations of Aqua Line to provide free pads for women commuters. These machines will be officially inaugurated on March 8 (International Women day) by Mrs. Ritu Maheshwari, IAS & Managing Director, NMRC.

After the official inauguration of the sanitary pad vending machines, the women commuters can access the machine and get sanitary pads free of cost. These machines have been installed inside the Women Toilet facility provided at stations. To encourage menstrual hygiene, the 'Nirmalaya' initiative is started jointly under the CSR program by Noida Metro Rail Corporation and Ace Foundation. Talking about the process of getting free napkin pads, NMRC spokesperson said:

The process to dispense a sanitary napkin will require a coin, which will be provided to women commuters by the station's staff. We are making an arrangement under which the coins will be kept near the machines.

Apart from this, the NMRC is dedicating two metro stations - Sector 76 (in Noida) and Pari Chowk (in Greater Noida) - of Noida Metro Rail Network as Pink Metro station. These stations have been given pink colour and some additional facilities will be introduced from this International Women Day for women commuters. The walls of stations have been painted with Pink Color and signboards have been placed at various locations.

These Pink Stations will have Child Feeding Rooms, Makeup Rooms, and Diaper Change Rooms. The women passengers can get access to all rooms at no cost. "Besides the cosmetic changes, these pink stations will have facilities like baby-feeding room, diaper-changing facilities, and a vanity-cum-changing room," said NMRC spokesperson. NMRC is also planning to deploy only women staff to handle these Pink Stations. Except for the security personnel, all other staff will be female on these stations.