App introduced to protect autorickshaw commuters

Shivamogga: Shivamogga police have launched a mobile application called ‘Auto Mitra’ to safeguard passengers who commute by autorickshaw in the city. Superintendent of Police Abhinav Khare said that there had been many complaints of autorickshaw drivers misbehaving with passengers and refusing to charge as per the fare meter. To counter this, the authorities decided to closely monitor autorickshaws, for which the app was introduced.

Khare said that autorickshaw drivers in the city were assembled for a meeting and were briefed on the steps taken by the department to ensure the safety of commuters. The department has issued digital ID cards to all drivers that carry their personal information, photograph, vehicle number, driving licence number, etc. It would also contain the contact number of police stations. Drivers would have to compulsorily display the digital identity cards in their autorickshaws.

A commuter who has the Auto Mitra app can access the driver’s information by scanning the QR code on the ID card. This information can be used to lodge a complaint with the police on problems like rash driving, collecting high fares and misbehaving with passengers. The information about the status of their complaint and the course of action taken will be displayed on the homepage. The Auto Mitra app can be downloaded from Google Play Store or on the Android platform. The app can also be used to send an SOS to relatives during emergencies to share their location and vehicle number.

Khare said that drivers with complaints being lodged on them repeatedly will be blacklisted and their driving licence will be cancelled. Police are also seizing autorickshaws that do not have digital ID cards. For those commuters who do not use smartphones, complaints can be registered using the personal information of the driver printed on the digital ID card.