Tiruvannamalai opens dedicated auto stand for women drivers at new bus terminus
Tiruvannamalai district administration earmarks space at the new bus terminus for a women-only autorickshaw stand, aiming to boost their passenger access and safety.
After nearly a decade of ferrying passengers, women autorickshaw drivers in Tiruvannamalai now have a dedicated stand of their own. The facility was inaugurated on Saturday at the newly constructed ₹34-crore modern bus terminus located on the Chennai-Tindivanam Road.
The initiative was spearheaded by Collector Vandana Garg, who directed authorities to make the necessary arrangements. It was implemented as a joint effort involving the State Highways Department, Tiruvannamalai Corporation, the Regional Transport Office, police, and the revenue department.
Corporation officials said that approximately 250 square feet of open space beneath a bridge at the terminus entrance has been earmarked for the stand. The land, which belongs to the State Highways Department, will be provided to the women drivers free of cost.
To ensure safety and convenience, adequate lighting will be installed at the stand. Since the terminus also houses a police outpost, regular patrolling is expected to provide an additional layer of security for the women drivers.
G. Devi, an autorickshaw driver, welcomed the move, saying that a dedicated stand helps them attract more customers, particularly women travellers. RTO officials have also stated that women drivers will be given proper guidance on the norms to be followed for maintaining the stand.
However, the development was not without friction. Regular autorickshaw drivers staged a protest at the terminus, arguing that the separate stand would hurt their earnings, as many commuters—especially senior citizens and women—would prefer to hire women drivers. The protest was peaceful and dispersed after officials intervened.