LG launches ‘QR Code Scheme’ for women’s security in Capital

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 23 

Lieutenant General Anil Baijal on Friday launched ‘QR Code Scheme’ called Himmat Plus for enhanced commuters’ security, particularly women, in Transport Range at Ajmeri gate, New Delhi Railway Station. 

Amulya Patnaik, Commissioner of Police and all Special Commissioners of Police, including students of various colleges, and around 1,000 auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers were also present at the launch. 

The LG distributed the QR codes to some of the TSRs and taxi drivers. Around 3,000 auto-rickshaws and taxis are now associated with the initiative. 

The drive was launched to enhance women security. Valid details of the drivers of yellow and black taxis and TSR from the jurisdiction of Transport Range, railway stations, airport and metro stations, were collected and QR codes were generated for them. These QR codes are operational with Himmat Plus scheme and the Delhi Police control room, said DCP Dinesh Kumar Gupta (railways).

Details of the commuters traveling on daily basis were also collected. Around 13 lakh persons travel in Metro per day, 1.5 lakh check-in airport each day and 13 lakh at railway stations, he said. 

The purpose of developing this application is to provide emergency help to the citizens of Delhi at the earliest. The citizens can avail this service just by downloading and registering on the app. Once a user completes the registration they can avail emergency help in a click, he said.

The app has a special feature for scanning QR codes of taxi, auto-rickshaw, and e-rickshaw drivers to verify their details, said the DCP. 

The app supports both English and Hindi languages. The app would act as a deterrent to crime against women, and would empower and make them more confident while traveling.

“Women are more vulnerable to crime while traveling and when they board a taxi or an auto-rickshaw, they do not know if it is safe. This upgraded app will definitely empower them and boost their confidence while traveling”, said the DCP.

As per the QR code functionality briefed by the official, the user opens the Himmat Plus App and scans the QR code from the card which is placed on the headrest of the driver's seat, facing the customer,” Gupta said “When the user presses the ‘Report Journey’ button, it sends the location with driver’s unique ID to the Himmat dashboard at Police Head Quarters,” he said.

In case the driver is not registered, then the user receives the auto-generated message ‘Driver is not registered with the Delhi Police’. In such an event, the passenger can call the police control room or press the SOS button on the application.

“If driver is registered with the Delhi Police, then the user can start the journey, and every five minutes, the user receives the pop-up notification on the app with messages like ‘Are you reaching safely’, with options such as ‘On the Way’, ‘Reached Safely’ and ‘In Trouble’,” said the DCP. 

In case the user presses the ‘In Trouble’ button, the Delhi Police personnel will call the passenger. It also sends alert messages to the user’s emergency contact number.

‘Help a click away’