Women passengers during the pink auto launch
Pink autos were launched by Gurgaon police to ensure women's safety. The women-only autos, however, are nowhere to be seen these days.
Sameera Arora, a PR executive with a city-based private firm said, "I once wanted to visit my relatives in Aardee city after work, but i found men queuing up at our auto booth, with none of the pink autos around. I had to take a cab instead."
After its launch, Gurgaon police had provided dedicated pink-auto booths at five Metro stations for the convenience of women passengers.
“It is common to see long queues outside prepaid-auto booths at Huda City Centre Metro station," said Suman Verma, a female auto driver. "In the absence of pink autos, men are often seen queuing up at the booths.”
According to a transport official, there were 26 pink autos registered with the Huda City Centre booth. There, however, are no pink autos in sight today. The booth was supposed to open at 6 am and function till 10 pm, but commuters say on most days, it remains closed.
"I reached Huda City Centre Metro station at 9 pm to meet a friend who resides in Greenwood City, Sector 46," said Rumi Bhomik, a techie with an IT firm from south Delhi. "I found that the booth was empty. I had to ask my friend to pick me up."
According to Ramesh Pal, an RWA member of Greenwood City, Gurgaon does not have any public transport for women.
"Local police claims to provide safety to commuting women. But the reality is far from that,” said Pal.
Why are the autos nowhere to be seen?
Jignesh Kumar, an auto driver at Huda City Centre said, "Pink autos only allow women passengers, resulting in several empty rides after dropping passengers. It is bad for business. Many of them have converted to normal autos."
There were 35 pink autos registered at MG road Metro station.
"The pink auto booth is always closed these days," said Sunanda Sachdeva, a Palam Vihar resident who gets down at MG Road Metro. "I usually share a ride with a friend these days."
When contacted, CPRO of Gurgaon police, Hawa Singh, said, that there were 70 pink autos registered with the traffic department that continue to work for the safety of women passengers.
