By Apurva Bhatt

Here’s some good news for women auto rickshaw commuters. On March 22, two new share auto services — exclusively for women commuters will be launched in Kandivli (West).

  Remarks Jayshree Gadkar from Kandivli, “This is definitely very good news as it will help all women who have to stand in long queues to get auto.” There sgould be more women share auto stands across Mumbai.

Thampy Kurien of the Mumbai rickshawmen's union said, "There has been a growing demand from passengers for exclusive autos for women, especially office-goers. They have to stand daily in long queues outside railway stations for 15 minutes to half an hour to get an auto. Now, they can bypass the queue by opting for share auto services run exclusively for them." 

The union, with the assistance of a local NGO, has decided to launch the first two routes — from Kandivli (West) station to Iraniwadi Number 4 and Kandivli (West) to Shankar Gully. The union proposes to start similar services outside Goregaon, Jogeshwari and Malad stations in the near future. It has also sought permission for a separate stand for the women share autos in the suburbs.