Girls take a ride on new pink autorickshaws that were launched by city police in Bhubaneswar on Sunday. Pictures by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, Aug. 31: City police today introduced 100 more pink autorickshaws — a women-priority vehicle in the city.

Besides, the police today started operation of pink autos from four additional locations of the city —Acharya Vihar, Jaydev Vihar, Bhawani Mall in Saheed Nagar and Kalpana Square.

The service was launched on June 27 with 203 autorickshaws.

In the first phase, the three-wheelers had started plying from six locations of the city — Khandagiri, Baramunda, Vani Vihar, Railway Station, Master Canteen and KIIT Square. Director general of police, Sanjeev Marik, flagged off these vehicles. “The service was launched with an aim to ensure safety and security of women and so far it has been successful,” said Marik.

The vehicles today rode on various streets of the city to spread awareness regarding women-friendly autorickshaws to the residents.

Earlier, the traffic wing of the police was entrusted with the job of conducting a survey on low response the vehicles received.

The survey had revealed that each pink autorickshaw ferried around 35 women passengers on a daily basis and on an average these vehicles ferried 7,000 women passengers every day.

“We would install hoardings at originating places of the autorickshaw service. Besides, we would distribute leaflets to popularise the service,” said police commissioner R.P. Sharma. Although, the three-wheelers were introduced to give priority to women, but the police had allowed the drivers to allow male passengers when women commuters were not available to ferry. City police is planning to set up a control room for the pink autorickshaws, a women priority vehicle in the city.

Similarly, the police are also planning to introduce a special number for the autorickshaw service.

“The control room would monitor the service and the special telephone number would enable the women passengers to avail the service by dialling the number.