Safety Net: QR Code And App For Autorickshaws On The Anvil In Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar:  Although autorickshaw-related crimes are not alarming in the city, there have been a few incidents of theft and harassment by some drivers in the recent past. To make travelling by autorickshaws safer in the city, Commissionerate police have decided to introduce a QR coding system and launch an app to help passengers get details of the drivers in case they face any trouble during their travel.

Each autorickshaw will be assigned a short code like 001 or 002. It will be displayed prominently in the vehicle so that passengers can see it easily. The code will also contain the complete details of the vehicle and its driver.

“If any passenger scans the QR code, he or she will immediately get details of the vehicle and name and phone number of the driver. It will be much easier for a passenger to remember a shortened code,” additional commissioner of police Uma Shankar Dash said. The coding system will start only after the police complete the compilation of the database of the drivers, sources said.

All drivers have been asked to carry valid registration certificates, driving licence, motor insurance, fitness and pollution under control certificate while transporting passengers. At least 18,000 autorickshaws are plying in the city. T

“We will verify the character antecedents of autorickshaw drivers and upload their details on the proposed app,” a police officer said.