'She-taxis' of Kerala will now become car pool facility too

Thiruvananthapuram: With the success of ‘she-taxis’, the exclusive cab service for women in Kerala, authorities have decided to introduce car pooling system to provide more cost-effective service for commuters. The Gender Park, which introduced the cab service, will also expand the total number of vehicles from five to 25 by next month, considering immense response from travellers, its CEO P T M Sunish said here today. [caption id=“attachment_129643” align=“alignright” width=“380”]  The 24X7 cab service was launched in the capital city last month to ensure safe journey for women commuters.[/caption] “She Taxi” is the first off-campus project by Gender Park, an institution established under the state Department of Social Justice to work towards gender equity. The 24X7 cab service was launched in the capital city last month to ensure safe journey for women commuters. “Car pooling is a very cost effective and eco-friendly mode of travel and we want to encourage women commuters coming from the same area to use ‘She Taxis’ for the purpose,” he said. “A taxi pool will cost less than the autorickshaw fare for the same distance and they can travel in safety and the comfort of an air-conditioned sedan,” he said. The taxi pooling system would be more helpful for those travelling long distances. The service targets professionals and students who travel to the city every day from the suburbs and outskirts, he said. All cabs are metered and have an electronic payment system, allowing users to pay using credit or debit cards or cash, the official added. The She Taxis, with women drivers, has multiple security systems for safety of the drivers as well as passengers, Gender Park sources said. A control room tracks the taxis in real-time using GPS and there are personal emergency alert switches for drivers and passengers inside the car, they said. The cabs have a map of all emergency response systems in the city and public safety officers will be available for their assistance. Drivers will also be trained in self-defence and good driving practices, sources added. PTI