(From left) Deputy police commissioner Nitinjeet Singh, additional police commissioner Santosh Bala, Bhubaneswar municipal commissioner Sanjib Kumar Mishra and police commissioner RP Sharma at a meeting with autorickshaw drivers in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, Nov. 27: City police is planning to introduce dress code for autorickshaw drivers in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar.

The idea was mooted during an interface between the police and autorickshaw drivers of twin cities today.

The police also hinted that pink autos would be introduced in twin cities exclusively for women.

During the meeting, the police also asked the drivers to have mandatory registration with the police and to obtain valid identity cards. The police also asked the drivers to refrain from rash driving and obey the traffic rules strictly.

However, the police expressed concern over involvement of autorickshaw drivers in various criminal activities in both the cities.

October 30 this year, a group of autorickshaw drivers allegedly drugged a 35-year-old woman from Vishakhapatnam and molested her near the Biju Patnaik airport. An autorickshaw driver was arrested with a revolver and marijuana at Rasulgarh in the same month.

Similarly, the other crimes involving autorickshaw drivers include molestation, manhandling and assault on passengers. The police also sought the help of autorickshaw drivers to curb crime and nab criminals.

“The autorickshaws move in and around the city and pick passengers. They can provide us crucial information to nab criminals and suspects. This will help the police in controlling and checking crime,” said police commissioner R.P. Sharma.

There are around 17,000 registered autorickshaws running in Bhubaneswar and 4,000 in Cuttack.

During the meeting, the autorickshaw drivers also raised their problems, especially absence of designated parking lots.

“Despite our long-standing demand to provide designated parking lots, the authorities so far have not been able to take any concrete steps,” said Saroj Behera, an autorickshaw driver.

On the other hand, officials of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation assured that the parking problem would be sorted out soon.

“The state government has already identified designated places for parking of autorickshaws and very soon these places will be notified,” said municipal commissioner Sanjib Kumar Mishra.