Vadodara Police to ferry women stranded on road at night

, Feb 8: Women unable to get autos or taxis to reach home after 8 PM will now get a helping hand from city

, which has decided to provide free transport facility for them.

The initiative has been taken to ensure safety of women and curb crime against them. Police will provide PCR vans to ferry girls and women after 8 PM to drop them home if they find it difficult to get cabs or autorickshaws, Police Commissioner Satish Sharma said.

The service will be free of charge and can be availed by calling the toll-free helpline number 100, he said, while talking to reporters here last evening.

"We have 45 PCR vans which patrol the city round-the-clock. Now they will be used for ferrying women facing difficulty in getting transport facility to reach their destinations during night hours," he said.

Vadodara, which has a population of 18 lakh, is the first city in Gujarat to have such a service for women stranded on road at odd hours. It was started yesterday.

"We have launched an awareness campaign to educate citizens about our efforts to improve policing and help those in distress. The transport facility is part of the initiatives," the IPS officer said.

"As part of this campaign, pamphlets are being distributed to people to encourage them to call the helpline number (100) when they are in trouble, face emergency situations or become victim of a crime. The response to the helpline call will be prompt, courteous and reliable."

Police will approach them within ten minutes after receiving the call, the Commissioner added. The city, Gujarat's commercial hub, has recorded 40 per cent decline in criminal cases and 32 per cent in other offences in the last one year, said Sharma.

Police Control Room on an average receives 100 to 120 calls daily. "We will increase the number of phone lines and personnel manning them if the need arises," he added.

PTI