‘Enhance verification of cab drivers’

Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara said taxi drivers should be put through enhanced screening measures to ensure the safety of women travelling in cabs.

Days after a woman travelling to the airport in an Ola cab was molested by the driver, Parameshwara on Saturday held a meeting with cab aggregators, officials of transport and police departments and discussed ways to increase safety measures.

Bengaluru sees about 3.5 lakh trips every day.

Parameshwara, also the Bengaluru Development Minister, suggested that complete details of a driver should be verified before taking him on board aggregator platforms.

The meeting also saw suggestions by officials who noted that there were only a few women drivers at present and an environment should be created where more women can choose to drive cabs in the night.

They noted that women passengers can travel in cabs without fear when there are women drivers.

“Cabs have become part of everyday life now. It is therefore important that the service does not lack safety,” Parameshwara said.

Officials suggested that a repository containing details of drivers should be created and connected to the aggregator apps. “When a woman books a cab, she should be able to get complete information,” they said.