Cuttack, Dec. 21: Police have decided to convert the prepaid autorickshaw service at Badambadi to a 24-hour service from next year.

The decision was taken to curb harassment of passengers. Senior officials of traffic management committee have also approved the proposal at a high-level meeting.

The decision is also expected help passengers from outside Cuttack to get cheap and safe mode of transport through the public transport system.

"We have requested the autorickshaw association to submit details of drivers so that we can change the existing prepaid autorickshaw service, which is at present available only during the night, into a 24-hour facility," said assistant commissioner of police, traffic, P.K. Dalai.

At present, the prepaid autorickshaw service is only available for passengers travelling in buses in long routes from 10pm to 6am on a daily basis.

The service was extended to Badambadi in 2014 with only 10 autorickshaws. Now, 30 autorickshaws operate under the service with assistance from the police.

The police are keen to introduce more than 200 autorickshaws for the 24-hour service.

At present, 20 to 30 passengers avail the prepaid service from Badambadi regularly, but after the service is converted into a 24-hour facility, the daily turnout of passengers is expected to be more than 250.

At present, a passenger has to pay Rs 30 to travel a distance of 5km under the prepaid service, while the maximum fareis Rs120.

The city has been divided into 25 zones and adequate measures have been taken by the police to ensure the safety of passengers, especially women.

"After the introduction of the prepaid auto service, a passenger can easily get the details of the driver and vehicle registration number mentioned at the back of the rear seat," said Saudamini Das, a passenger.

Das also said that once the service was available 24 hours, passengers would not be charged exorbitant fares. At times, autorickshaws charge Rs150 for a distance of 10km at night, she said.

Senior police officials said there were plans to completely stop the night prepaid autorickshaw service from SCB Medical College and Hospital because of poor response.

"Only two to three passengers were availing the service during the night. We will request SCB officials to provide adequate space for parking of 50 autorickshaws when the service will be made available all through the day," Dalai said.