Free sanitary pads at all Aqua Line Metro stations from March 8

Sanitary pads for women will be available free of cost across all 21 stations of the Noida-Greater Noida Metro from March 8, officials said on Thursday.

Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC), which manages and operates the Aqua Line, will also designate two Metro stationsSector 76 in Noida and Pari Chowk in Greater Noidaas "pink stations".

"Besides the cosmetic changes, these pink stations will have facilities like baby-feeding room, diaper-changing facilities and a vanity-cum-changing room," an NMRC official said.

The NMRC is also aiming at having entirely women staff on these two stations.

Except for the security personnel, a job outsourced to a private firm, all other staff will be female on these stations, the official added.

The Metro operator will also have vending machines for sanitary pads installed at each of its 21 stations.

"Any commuter will have to get a token at the Metro station which could be used at the vending machine to get a sanitary pad absolutely free of cost," the official said.

NMRC Managing Director Ritu Maheshwari is expected to inaugurate the two pink stations and the vending machine service on March 8-the Women's Day-- according to the official.

The initiative to encouragemenstrual hygiene is supported by real estate group Ace.

"Ace Studio, part of the Ace group, will bear the expenses of sanitary pads for one year," a company spokesperson said.