Tiruvannamalai gets auto stand for women drivers

After nearly a decade of driving autorickshaws, a group of women drivers got a dedicated auto rickshaw stand for them at the newly opened ₹34-crore modern bus terminus on Chennai - Tindivanam Road on Saturday. Officials of the Department of Transport said that the initiative was a joint effort of various stakeholders, including the State Highways Department, Tiruvannamalai Corporation, RTO, police and revenue department.

“The initiative to provide a separate auto rickshaw stand for women drivers was the brainchild of Collector Vandana Garg. She instructed authorities to take necessary steps,” K. Balasubramanian, Commissioner, Tiruvannamalai Corporation, told The Hindu.

“A dedicated auto rickshaw stand for women drivers helps us get more customers, especially women travellers. We thank the district administration for the support,” said G. Devi, an autorickshaw driver. Corporation officials said that around 250 sq.ft of space below a bridge at the entrance of the terminus was earmarked for the auto rickshaw stand.

They can use the open space, which belongs to the State Highways Department, free of cost. Corporation officials said that adequate lighting will be provided for the stand. As the terminus has a police outpost, regular police patrolling will also ensure safety of women autorickshaw drivers at the stand.

RTO officials said that adequate guidance will be provided to women drivers to follow norms that were outlined for maintaining an auto stand. Meanwhile, regular autorickshaw drivers staged a protest at the terminus against providing a separate auto stand for women drivers.

They claimed that such an initiative would affect their livelihood as many commuters, especially senior citizens and women, would prefer to travel in auto rickshaws run by women drivers. After officials intervened, they dispersed peacefully.