Delhi Police working on app to solve capital's streetlight problem
Delhi Police are working on another app for women's safety. The Women Safety- Dark Spots App will allow citizens to notify the authorities of dysfunctional or absent streetlights at the click of a button. This comes after a man molested two women at the deserted ITO metro station exit last month. TOI reports many women have complained about having to avoid dark places.
Seven years ago, 70% of Delhi's streetlights didn't work
In 2010, News18 reported that a whopping 70% of the capital's 3,00,000 streetlights didn't work. Former opposition leader in the East Delhi Municipal Body, Variyam Kaur, earlier said the abysmal condition of lights remained despite expenses worth crores by the civic bodies. This year, the South and North Delhi municipal bodies launched projects to replace lakhs of conventional streetlights with LED lights.
Unlit roads and spaces help crime thrive
Two women reported being molested at the dark and deserted ITO Metro Station on November 13. Police later arrested the 25-year-old man; he reportedly works at a tea stall outside the station. Like many other spots, people have reported this place too is unlit.
How will the new app help?
The Women Safety-Dark Spots App, designed by MeitY, will allow citizens to mark non-functional or absent streetlights on its platform. For dysfunctional lights, people can mark the spot red; a nearby PCR will receive a notification and forward it to NDMC for action within 24-28 hours. If there's no light, the NDMC will start work. The app is in testing right now.
Before this, the Himmat app for women's safety
Delhi Police has made apps for women's safety before too. In January'15, it launched the Himmat app for women travelling alone. It allows users to alert police, friends and family in distress. Recently, Uber partnered with Delhi Police to allow quick access to Himmat from within the Uber app. Delhi Police recently roped in Salman Khan for the app's promotion.
