Women call for stricter bike taxi norms over safety concerns

 Hyderabad: A slew of issues in a cab and bike taxi aggregator app has raised security concerns among the public, who cited instances of drivers and vehicle numbers not matching with details provided in the app, and demanding passengers cancel the ride to avoid paying commissions to the aggregator company. There were also allegations of inappropriate and suspicious behaviours.

Sharing her ordeal, Uma Rani, a student, said she booked a bike ride from SR Nagar to Kukatpally as she had to reach her college quickly.

“The app showed the driver's name as Gopi with vehicle number 8484. However, a different person with a different number came, saying that he was using a friend’s bike. Since I didn’t have time to argue, I accepted the ride. During the trip, the rider stopped for more than 10 minutes, claiming another person would join, which caused me to panic. I called my friends and the police, they rescued me in time,” she said.

In another incident that took place two days ago, a woman from Madhuranagar said she was taken to a deserted location by a bike taxi rider, due to which she immediately jumped off the bike and took a bus.

“I am from Rajahmundry and came here to stay for six months. I don’t know the exact locations in Hyderabad. A few drivers also don’t know the locations but when reaching the spot, ask to cancel the ride despite not knowing the route. In one such incident, I was taken to an unknown location around 8 pm, claiming it was a shortcut. I immediately dropped from the bike and took the bus,” she said.

Another woman, not wishing to be named, said she paid for the ride using GPay but the driver misused her number by sending her inappropriate messages. “I had to block him immediately. The need for stricter regulations on private ride-sharing apps should be implemented to ensure passengers' safety,” she said.

Kavitha Daara, women’s safety wing DCP, said: “We have been receiving such complaints and are taking appropriate action to make women feel safer. We have also conducted safety checks with the company to improve safety measures.”

Officials of the company, on whose platform the incidents were reported, were unavailable for comment.