Bhubaneswar:
The commissionerate of police rolled
out their ambitious 'Pink Auto' project to ensure safe ride of female
commuters. Chief minister Naveen Patnaik flagged off 200 pink auto rickshaws in the first phase.
The
autos will also transport male passengers when women are not available to
ensure that the business of the owners is not affected. "It is another
woman-friendly project after the OSRTC women special buses launched recently.
The pink auto project will be a safe and secure mode of conveyance for all women commuters," Naveen said.
Commissioner
of police R P Sharma said the drivers are trusted as they have been trained how
to behave with female passengers. Phone number of police control room (100) and
a grievance box have been placed in the autos, having pink stickers on the
front and rear sides. The autos will be parked near railway station, Vani
Vihar, Ram Mandir, Chandrasekharpur, Patia, Baramunda bus stand and Khandagiri
Square.
"The
drivers will be encouraged to provide information about suspicious characters
and crimes," Sharma said.Police said they introduced the service in the
wake of harassment of women by several auto drivers in the past. Nearly 10
drivers were arrested in the past four months on charges of molestation, eve
teasing, theft, harassment of passengers and forging identity cards. Working
women have been alleging that it
becomes risky to pass by auto stands in the evening as most of the drivers
remain drunk and pass lewd comments. "A pink auto driver will act as
guardian if the passenger is alone," Sharma said.
Source: Odishabook.com
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