In the last one year, we have not received any single complaint from any passenger regarding the behaviour of the pink auto rickshaw drivers. Due to the rising public demand, we are planning to add an additional 150 autos to the existing pink fleet of 350 by July-end. We will also add 15 more pink auto kiosks to the existing 10 in different areas of the city,” Twin City Police Commissioner Rajendra Prasad Sharma said.Dr Sharma while speaking to media on the completion of the first year of introduction of pink autos (exclusively for women) in the city on Tuesday said auto-rickshaws have succeeded in their target of helping women passengers.
“The pink auto project is not being funded by the State Government. We are running it in collaboration with a few esteemed private organisations,” he informed.According to sources, the pink auto-rickshaw project is supported by the Paradeep Phosphates ltd (PPl) and the Piaggio Vehicles Private ltd.Dr Sharma assured the auto-rickshaw drivers that they would not be asked by the police to fill up papers or provide any such details if they help an accident victim reach hospital. The Commissioner further said that as many as 20 pink auto-rickshaw drivers would be felicitated every year based on their performances and behaviour towards the passengers.