AP launches Abhayam App for safe travel of women in autos, taxis

Amaravati: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, on Monday, launched the Abhayam App for safe and secure travel for women passengers in autos and taxis. The app aims to instill confidence among women about their security by promising to provide help to those in distress and in emergencies.

Speaking on the occasion, Jagan said that his government is taking steps to stand up for women empowerment ensuring their safety and security. This is the first Internet of Things (IoT) based women safety project. He asserted that the reason for this ambitious project is not due to lack of trust in auto and taxi drivers, but to make women passengers more comfortable while traveling. "With this app, we show that apart from Ola and Uber, even local autos and taxis can offer safer transport."

The chief minister said that the project aimed to bring one lakh autos under the Abhayam initiative, where 5,000 vehicles will be equipped with tracking and IoT devices by 1 February, next year, 50,000 vehicles by July 1 and one lakh by November 2021.

Initially, IoT devices were set up in 1,000 autos in Visakhapatnam as a pilot project and this will be introduced in Vijayawada and Tirupati also.

Those traveling by autos will need to install the Abhayam mobile application. A QR code will be to the vehicle that must be scanned before boarding the vehicle. With this, the driver's photo and vehicle details will come into the mobile. If they encounter any problem, women can send the vehicle number to the police from the mobile app and the whereabouts of the vehicle can be tracked through GPS. Passengers who do not have a smartphone can press the panic button on the IoT device attached to the vehicle and the information is sent to the Command Control Center immediately. This causes the cab or auto to stop immediately and an alert will be sent to the nearest police station.

Reiterating that the state government is giving top priority to law and order, safety and security of women, Jagan said that there should be no compromise on the protection and safety of women. The government had already provided financial assistance through schemes like Aasara, Cheyutha for empowering them by all means. Similarly, the government had also brought 50 per cent reservation to the women in nominated posts and also appointed two women to hold the Home Minister and Deputy Chief Minister posts.

To ensure women's safety to the fullest, the government established special police stations in every district and are taking steps to set up special courts and are bringing Mahila Police Mitras to every village.

Home Minister M. Sucharita, Transport Department, Secretary Krishanbabu, Transport Commissioner P. Sitaramanjaneyulu, and other officials were among those present at the event.