A Pink Auto in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, June 27: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik today inaugurated the much-awaited women-friendly auto-rickshaw service, popularly known as pink auto, here.

Around 215 pink auto-rickshaws were set rolling in the first phase. These auto-rickshaws will give priority to women and children passengers. The police have started this service with the co-operation of auto-rickshaw associations of the city. They plan to run at least 500 such auto-rickshaws in the city. The number may go up depending on demand in future.

Inaugurating the service, the chief minister said that this was another women-friendly project of the government after special city buses for women.

“This pink auto is a novel idea to provide a secured alternative of travel inside the city to women. I believe this pink auto project will make travelling a safer experience for women,” said Naveen.

The new auto-rickshaws are not exactly pink in colour, they only have a retro-reflective pink sticker stuck on their front. These stickers would make these autos easily visible during night. The police control room number, 100, and the traffic help line number, 1095, are also displayed on the vehicles.

Police commissioner R.P. Sharma said that these pink auto drivers had been issued separate identity cards. If any other person drives such vehicles, the passengers would easily be aware of it. In such cases, it would be considered as violation and the identity card of the driver and the pink sticker of the vehicle would be withdrawn. The name of an auto-rickshaw driver, his mobile phone number, driving licence number and vehicle registration number would be displayed inside the vehicle. Besides, they will also have to display a map of Bhubaneswar in their auto- rickshaw.

The uniqueness of the project is that the auto will be driven by male drivers who have been sensitised to take care of women passengers even in difficult situations. The drivers have also been trained in first-aid. The drivers have undergone a psychological test and their attitude towards women have also been ascertained. Their criminal antecedents have also been verified.

“We have given more importance to owner-driven auto-rickshaws. Besides, only drivers who are married and have their family here have been given importance as having a family base will prevent them from fleeing in case of a crime,” said Sharma.

The details of the pink auto drivers would be maintained by the police control room and traffic police station.

Besides, these drivers have also been told not to deny short-distance trips to women commuters.