Chennai:Â To enhance security and safety of women passengers, a city taxi operator on Monday said that it will not disclose their mobile numbers and other details to drivers, in the wake of alleged rape of a woman by an Uber cab driver in the national capital.
Usually, when passengers avail taxi services, their mobile numbers are passed on to drivers by taxi operators’ call centres. This is to help drivers identify the passengers’ location.
“The mobile phone numbers of women and VIPs who call us seeking taxis will not be provided to drivers hereafter,” Managing Director, Fast Track, C Ambigapathy said. The step is being taken following incidents of crime against women in cities like Delhi, he said.
“Drivers and women passengers besides VIPs will be able to pass on information only through the call centre,” he said. Drivers are being sensitised in handling passengers by holding training programmes, he said.
“Whenever we hire drivers, we follow a process of due diligence. We collect documents including driving licence, ration card and passport besides references from five of their relatives.”
GPS was installed in 70% of the taxis, he said, adding that in Chennai itself, the company has over 6000 taxis. Cab-booking services have come under the scanner following the rape of a woman executive allegedly by a cab driver in Delhi early this month.