Autorickshaw rides, even late in the night, is going to be safer in the State capital, especially for women and children, with the city traffic police launching ‘My Auto is Safe’, a project to digitise data of three-wheeler owners.
Under this project, traffic cops in collaboration with ThinkMax Solution are collecting details of autorickshaw owners, drivers and their contact numbers along with photographs.
A UV printed aluminium sheet with details of the vehicle and a QR code will be provided to the drivers. “Auto drivers must fix the tamper-proof sheet behind the driver’s seat and two waterproof stickers will be pasted on the front and rear sides of the vehicle,” said Traffic Additional DCP (North) Aggadi Bhaskar.
He said passengers travelling in a particular autorickshaw can scan the QR code for their safety and it can be forwarded to their friends and family members in case of an emergency. The passengers can also seek immediate assistance from the police through WhatsApp (9490616690) or Dial 100.
“Even if someone forgets their belongings in the vehicle, they can approach the nearest police station or report the complaint on www.safegaadi.com,” the officer said.
Over one lakh autorickshaws are registered in the Hyderabad Commissionerate and till Monday, over 12,000 registered with the police for the UV sheets. “This will also help us curb illegal plying of three-wheelers from nearby towns,” Mr. Bhaskar said.
Safety of women travelling in the autorickshaws will be the priority, apart from curbing involvement of unauthorised vehicles in crimes.
“Some of my friends have had bad experiences. Such initiatives by the police are welcome,” said University of Chicago research scholar Sneha Annavarapu.
