BENGALURU: Underscoring the importance of women and child safety while travelling in app-based cab services provided by Uber and Ola, Deputy Chief Minister Dr G. Parameshwar, directed officials concerned to collect complete details of drivers of those companies.
Expressing his grave concern over incidents of sexual assaults on women passengers in cabs, he strictly told them to take preventive steps to avoid such incidents in future.
Holding a meeting with app-based cab companies here on Saturday, Dr Parameshwar, who also holds Home portfolio, told the officials of cab aggregator companies to collect details of drivers before appointing them.
Apart from obtaining their details, they should also check with the police department about their antecedents. The immediate priority of the government was the safety of women and children who travel in the app-based cabs.
Recently, a woman had been sexually assaulted by a driver of a cab company and such incidents should not occur again, he added.
The Minister said that private cabs have become a part of people's life and they expect safety while travelling in these vehicles. The government would take drastic steps if any cab driver misbehaves with woman. It was also duty of the companies to collect details of the cabs as well as drivers if they were working during night. An information deposit application should be adopted by all cab managements to have a check on drivers.
Those who attended the meeting included DG&IGP Neelamani Raju, ADGP Seemanth Kumar Singh, Deputy Inspector General of Police Hitendra and representatives from cab operators.
Women drivers
It may be noted that with more and more women drivers coming forward to operate taxis, the safety of women had been addressed to some extent. If women drivers work during night, women commuters could travel without any fear, the minister felt.
‘New TenderSure roads to be built after monsoon’
Deputy Chief Minister Dr G. Parameshwar, who also holds Bengaluru Development portfolio, said TenderSure road works would begin after the end of monsoon season. Reviewing their progress here on Saturday, he said 12 TenderSure road works were taken up in the first and second phase, of which 10 had been completed. Works on Siddaiah Puranik Road and Jayanagar Road were under progress. "I will again review the progress next week". On complaints of sub-standard work on Church Street being done at a cost of Rs 14 crore under TenderSure, the Minister said quality should be given top priority and any sub-standard work would not be tolerated in future. The new TenderSure work should be taken up after the monsoon and by that time all formalities should be completed. Officials should provide information to minister on progress of works and steps being taken to complete it before deadline. BBMP Commissioner Manjunath, DIG Hitendra, Jan Urban Space Foundation Chairperson Swathi Ramanathan and others were present.
