Autos to have e-devices for safety of women

• The government will implement the programme Abhaya in the city as a pilot project and will extend to other parts of the State based on the response
• The programme is aimed to protect women commuters travelling in autos 
• Initially the e-devices will be installed in 50 autos in city

Vijayawada: The State government will implement ‘Abhaya’ programme for the safety of women auto passengers in the city. As part of it, e-devices will be installed under the seat of auto rikshaw drivers to keep vigil on the movement of auto rikshaws. 

The government will implement Abhaya in Vijayawada as a pilot project and will extend to other parts of the State based on the response. 

Krishna District Collector B Lakshmikantham on Saturday said that initially the e-devices would be installed in 50 auto rikshaws in the city to study the functioning of devices. 

He hoped the e-devices would be useful to keep vigil on auto drivers. He said the police and the transport department would get information automatically if the auto drivers divert the vehicles intentionally. 

He said the police could track the auto rikshaws after receiving information from e-device. He presided over the Road Safety meeting at the Collector’s camp office on Saturday and announced the Abhaya programme to be launched in the city soon.

He directed the officials to erect the name boards and sign boards along the National Highways to check accidents. 

He asked the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation to take measures for the construction of footpath on MG Road. 

He also asked the police and transport department officials to book cases on drivers for not wearing helmet. 

Municipal Commissioner J Nivas, Sub-collector Manish Singh, Joint Collector -2 P Baburao, Deputy Transport Commissioner Meera Prasad and other officials participated in the meeting.