With crime against women on a rapid rise, there has been concern about women’s safety on public transport, and the lack of transport options for women working late. Addressing this need is a new cab service exclusively for women, driven by women.

An initiation by three friends — advocate Surya Mukundaraj, writer and social activist Manjunatha Adde, and real estate entrepreneur Vinay Chaithanya — the Bangalore-based service is set for a formal launch on October 5.

“The taxi profession is largely male dominated. That is when we decided that if we start a cab service driven by women, female passengers will also feel safe,” Mr. Mukundaraj said.

The cabs have also been fit with ‘panic buttons’ for emergencies. “When the button is pressed, a message reaches our phones and when we call back the number connected to the cab through an Android app, we can hear what is happening on our phones through a microphone in the car. There is a live GPS tracker as well,” said Mr. Mukundaraj. Though the cabs are meant for women, family members accompanying them are allowed.

Reproduced from The Hindu

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