In a bid to improve women’s security in the national capital, the Delhi government has ordered taxi operators to install GPS devices in their vehicles, failing which fitness certificates will not be issued to them. City officials said that the decision will be enforced on all types of taxis, including radio taxis and black-and-yellow cabs, plying in different parts of the national capital.
The decision comes months after a 25-year-old woman was allegedly raped by a driver enlisted with the US-based cab service Uber in December inside the taxi in which GPS was not installed. “We want to ensure women’s safety in all public taxis due to which we have directed all operators, including black-and-yellow cabs, to first install GPS in their vehicles,” an official said.
“GPS will not only ensure women’s safety in taxis, but will also help the police in case of any untoward incident,” he said. There are more than 15,000 cabs plying across the capital.
However, the Delhi Taxis’ Union has threatened to launch a series of protests if the government does not withdraw its decision immediately. “GPS is not the only solution to ensure women’s safety. The government should immediately withdraw this decision, else we will come out on the streets and protest against it,” Rajendra Soni, general secretary of the Delhi Taxis’ Union, said.
Keeping in mind the increasing rate of crime against women, the NDMC is working on an all-women taxi service. The NDMC was to launch the “Shakti” cab service on the Women’s Day, however, it had to be deferred as the NDMC is still working out the details of the project.
