BHUBANESWAR: Police Commissionerate of the Twin City is all set to add 150 more auto-rickshaws to the pink auto fleet by July 15. As many as 350 pink autos are plying in the Capital after the service was launched in July last year, Police Commissioner Dr RP Sharma said here on Tuesday.
Addressing a meeting of pink auto drivers and Auto Rickshaw Driver Association officials, Dr Sharma said the women friendly service has been successful so far barring some instances of over-charging from passengers.
Awareness drives will be launched in the coming days to educate auto drivers on how to relate to the passengers.
Such drives earlier have produced excellent results as the drivers were trained in gender sensitivity, professionalism and how to react to an emergent situation. The initiative aims at making auto-rickshaw ride safe and convenient for women in the city, Dr Sharma said.
He urged the auto drivers to report illegal and anti-social activities which come to their notice to the police without delay.
Speaking at the meeting, All Odisha Auto Mahasangh president Subash Singh said auto drivers would soon be recognised as unorganised labour and subsequently entitled to various schemes launched by the State Government for the sector.
The pink auto drivers will get two pairs of uniform and one identity card by Commissionerate of Police.
More than 500 requests from auto rickshaw drivers are pending to get enrolled into the pink auto service, Singh said. He urged the Police Commissioner to raise the strength of the women friendly autos to 1000 by the end of this year.
The partner with Twin City police in the pink auto project, Paradeep Phosphates limited (PPL), assured additional financial and logistics support to make the service robust and extensive.