Cops begin safety drive for women commuters at railway stations

After issuing directives to private and fleet taxi operators to maintain profile dossiers of drivers, in the backdrop of the rape of a 25-year-old financial analyst by a taxi driver in Delhi last week, the Mumbai police have now started a safety drive for late night women commuters at major railway stations and at the airport.

After issuing directives to private and fleet taxi operators to maintain profile dossiers of drivers, in the backdrop of the rape of a 25-year-old financial analyst by a taxi driver in Delhi last week, the Mumbai police have now started a safety drive for late night women commuters at major railway stations and at the airport.

Mumbai police commissioner Rakesh Maria told HT on Thursday a drive was launched on Wednesday night jointly by the Mumbai police and the traffic police.

As part of the drive, joint teams of officers and men from the section (local) police and traffic police have been deployed at 6 major railway termini — CST, Dadar, Mumbai Central, Kurla, Borivli and Bandra — to help women commuters find a “safe cab” at late hours.

“We have started temporary help desks at these railway termini. Our men will lead the women commuters travelling alone at night, to the taxi or autorickshaw stand.

After noting down the vehicle’s registration number, telephone number and the driver’s licence number, the vehicles are flagged off,” Maria said. He said on the first day of the drive, 74 women commuters were assisted by the police. He said efforts are on to set up permanent help desks at these places.

Maria, meanwhile, said the drive also covers the domestic and international airports where similar teams have been deployed and a strict vigil has been mounted on taxi and autorickshaw drivers.

“Though we aim to help women travellers, a specific emphasis is being laid on foreigners who are more susceptible to misleading by the taxi drivers,” he said, adding the details of every taxi entering and exiting the airport has been maintained.

Maria said the police are searching for a place to set up a permanent help desk at the airport to facilitate women travellers get safe rides.