Thane to start auto-rickshaws driven by women

Now, there will be few auto-rickshaws that will be exclusively reserved for women auto drivers in Thane. This move has been made in the wake of the recent attacks against women commuters.

The Thane transport department has got a nod from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Transport Authority (MMRTA) to start the ladies special autos in the city. However, the proposal has also left many women disappointed, who wish to drive these autos.

Jyoti Chandrakant Bhoye talking with iamin said, “We won’t get our own permits to drive these autos in the city. We can only rent them from male passengers who already have permits. This way, most of our earned money would go in paying the rent. We need to get permits also.”

Meanwhile, Hemangini Patil, deputy transport officer, Thane, said, “Interested women can come to RTO for license and badge and they have to be a class 8 pass-out at least. We will not issue separate permits for women. They will have to run the autos of men only if they are interested to lend.”

The RTO is planning to release 3,746 permits through a lottery system for interested women drivers.

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