Coming Soon: 500 Women-Driven Autos In Bengaluru

Pink women-only autos -- easily spotted rickshaws -- will soon be on Bangalore roads. And ladies, we need to get used to it because as many as 500 autorickshaws will hit the garden city streets with women drivers, TOI reported.

This is first-of its kind facility by the state government will be launched in April this year.

This first fleet of pink autorickshaws, reserved only for women, will be distributed by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) under its social welfare scheme.

After BBMP Mayor Sampath Raj announced the launch of the pink autos in November last year, authorities started working towards kick-starting the initiative in full force.

The move was decided after the administrative body planned to reserve 20% of its parking slots for women.

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According to reports, the pink autos will be equipped with CCTV cameras and GPS trackers.

"We plan to distribute 500 pink autos under our welfare schemes. We will provide Rs 80,000 in subsidy for each autorickshaw, and the beneficiary will have to pay the balance. The drivers can be men or women, but if the latter come forward, they will be given preference. We will provide a special training programme for male drivers to behave with woman passengers better," said Abdul Rakeeb Zakir, chairperson of the BBMP standing committee for social justice and welfare.

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The number of pink autorickshaws might be increased based on the response: mayor Sampath Raj

Pink autos come in the wake of various measures to make the city safer for women commuters. Pink Hoysalas, women's-only coach on the Metro and pink seats on BMTC buses have already made commute better for women. Lets hope the state government's move really does benefit women commuters of the city.

Feature Image Credit: happykeys.com

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