In the wake of the recent surge in crimes against women, the government of India will talk to taxi aggregators such as Ola, and Uber to provide an “exclusive women pooling” option to women passengers. This decision will be proposed keeping in mind, the recent incidents of women getting sexually harassed, molested, and raped by drivers of the app-based cab aggregators or co-passengers.

According to a Hindustan Times report, the Union Road Transport and Highways will call a meeting of taxi aggregators shortly to discuss the issue. Reportedly, a government official has said that this option, will enhance the safety of those women using taxi services. Maneka Gandhi last week had mooted the idea of giving women passenger the option of choosing co-passenger.

Last month, an Ola driver was arrested for molesting a woman during a trip from Nariman Point to Powai. Reportedly, the accused committed the crime, after the young woman started feeling giddy and fell asleep on the front seat as the cab took the Eastern Freeway. Earlier this month, a woman passenger had a harrowing experience, after an Ola driver allegedly molested, and forced her to strip, took pictures of her on mobile, and even threatened to call his friends and gang-rape her, while she was on her way to the airport.

We will have to wait and watch to see if these government proposals gets passed, and if at all it helps to curb crimes and makes the travel comfortable for every women passenger.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 14, 2018 11:07 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).