SOS button in Ola App for safety of passengers in Raj

Jaipur: The city police integrated an SOS emergency feature into the Ola cab mobile app, linking nearly one lakh vehicles across the state with the Abhay Command Centre, officials said.Jaipur police commissioner Sachin Mittal Wednesday said the feature is aimed at providing immediate police assistance to passengers, particularly women, elderly citizens and children, during emergencies. Users can press the SOS button during a ride to alert the police, following which the nearest police team will respond. Mittal said the step was taken in view of recent incidents involving crimes such as assault, robbery and theft allegedly linked to cab drivers and delivery personnel in the city. Deputy commissioner of police (South) Rajarshi Raj Varma, who is also the nodal officer of the project, said that of the 1 lakh vehicles, 40,000 are in Jaipur. Under the initiative, the Abhay Command Centre will receive real-time alerts from users and coordinate with local police stations to ensure prompt action. The project has been implemented under the direction of inspector general of police (SCRB) Ajaypal Lamba. Varma said the city earlier carried out verification drives of cab drivers and delivery personnel in the city. A total of 7,533 cab drivers were verified, of whom 205 were found to have criminal records and were subsequently placed under monitoring, with details shared with the respective companies. Similarly, data on 16,436 delivery personnel associated with platforms was analysed, and 38 individuals with criminal backgrounds were identified. Police said action was initiated by informing the companies concerned. Officials said the integration of the SOS feature is part of broader efforts to strengthen public safety and maintain law and order in the city.