Gurgaon: To make travel safer for women, police are planning to introduce prepaid autorickshaw booths near Millennium City Centre metro station and IFFCO Chowk.All auto drivers who take bookings through these prepaid booths will be asked to register and submit key details, including their full name, contact number and vehicle number. This information will be stored online and made available to law enforcement officials in case of an incident.Cops said a police officer will be stationed at the booth to monitor activities and act as a visible deterrent for any misconduct.“Women’s safety is a top priority for Gurgaon police. Based on concerns raised, the prepaid booth model will be launched in high footfall areas and expanded further,” said Arpit Jain, DCP (headquarters).The initiative, police said, was proposed by a group of women who voiced the need for structured and secure public transport services in the city. The DCP said traffic police are in talks with auto unions to finalise the logistics of these prepaid booths. An agency will be hired subsequently to operate the booths.Police announcement about the initiative was met with cautious optimism from women, many of whom said they’ve lived with fears about safety for too long.“Gurgaon is a city of contrasts. On one end, you have secure, well-guarded apartments. On the other, there are areas that women avoid altogether. I always tell people — pay more and live in a gated community if you want to feel safe. I don’t know a single woman who hasn’t been harassed. It’s so common that many just accept it,” said Mahima Saini, a 34-year-old who has been living in the city for seven years.Data shows, that the city last year recorded 1,727 cases of crimes against women. Others pointed out that previous safety initiatives have had a mixed track record. For instance, ‘pink’ autos, which promised exclusive transportation for women, failed to gain traction and largely vanished from NCR roads. Other services like live location sharing apps and helplines also depend heavily on user participation and haven’t seen wide-scale adoption.“No initiative will succeed if the police are not consistent in its implementation. They need to create regular awareness campaigns to keep the initiative active and visible. This ensures that people, especially women, know it is ongoing and also helps newcomers to the city become aware of it,” said Aditi Saini, a working professional in the city.Other than the booths, DCP Jain said Gurgaon police are in touch with civic agencies to improve street lighting and install CCTV cameras in 20 areas identified as vulnerable locations. These include locations such as Vatika Chowk (Sector 49), Govt Girls’ College in Sector 52, Sikanderpur metro station, IFFCO Chowk metro station, sectors 22, 29 and 48, IMT-Manesar crossing, and Devilal Park in Old Gurgaon.
