KOCHI: The ‘She Auto’ service launched in the city in March has become a big hit and the city police is now planning to add more vehicles to the fleet. The project is part of the home department’s special policing initiatives and gender sensitisation programme.
In the pilot phase of the project, 100 women drivers were given training. The women-friendly three-wheelers are operating from the auto stands at selected locations including railway stations, KSRTC bus stand, Vyttila mobility hub, Palarivattom and Kaloor.
“Apart from the She Autos, we’ve introduced nearly 400 women-friendly autorickshaws in the city. We’ve been getting good response from the public,” said Sajan Koikkal, assistant commissioner of police (traffic).
Most women prefer to hire She Auto for safe rides. “The specially trained women are well-behaved and drive carefully,” said Namitha John, a bank employee. The Bhagyasree women auto taxi service the corporation launched in association with Kudumbasree, however, has not succeeded as they were not allowed to operate from auto stands.
