Girl students, cars with tinted windows & pepper spray: unending tale of Chandigarh’s ‘geri route’

On a typical weekday afternoon, first-year MA English student Khewa Malhotra describes navigating the campus gates at MCM DAV College for Women as a strategic maneuver to avoid unwanted attention. While the exterior appears like a regular stretch of road, the moment students step outside, an unsettling atmosphere of intimidation engulfs the area. The traffic doesn't flow smoothly; it moves at a snail's pace with luxury sedans and modified SUVs crawling along the perimeter.

Students at MCM have long complained about the daily intrusion at their campus gates. A student openly expressed frustration, while another echoed the sentiment that the sight of men making "uncomfortable" glances was distressing. Carrying pepper spray and adjusting their college outfits to avoid unwanted attention offers little protection against the persistent presence of men.

When asked why they circle the women's institution during peak class hours, men provide a range of excuses, from casual indifference to transparent lies. Some claim their presence is just for a leisurely drop-off, while others justify their presence with herd mentality. However, contradictory narratives emerge, with some claiming to be there for university work or to pick up a sister, oblivious to the distance between MCM and Panjab University.

The threat doesn't stop at verbal harassment. Students have reported being trailed by vehicles with phones recording, forcing them to hide their presence. Despite police checks, the deterrence remains minimal, as the crawling traffic resumes the moment patrol vehicles leave. The Station House Officer at the Sector 36 police station, Inspector Chiranji Lal, acknowledged the issue, stating that regular checks are conducted during college hours, but the situation persists due to the continuous presence of observers outside the campus gates.