The truth is that India's public transport system is a failure. In New Delhi, the nation's capital, buses are infrequent, overcrowded, and unsafe for women. The Metro doesn't reach the entire city. Auto-rickshaws, the preferred mode of travel for many, are mostly unavailable at night. And in Mumbai, on the overburdened local railway system, women complain of frequent harassment in the form of lewd remarks, and even molestation.But a new service may be taking a tiny step in the right direction. Forshe (pronounced "for she"), previously named Forsche, is a radio taxi service created exclusively for women, with martial-arts-trained female drivers, and around-the-clock availability. Announced in Delhi last month to much fanfare, the first 20 taxis were launched by Kiran Bedi, the first woman to serve on the Indian police force, who runs the Forshe project in the city.Twenty-five of these taxis have already been operational in Mumbai since Woman's Day 2008. Catering to the rich, the taxi tries to offer up a bit of pampering: a magazine rack, nail clippers, wet wipes, and nail polish remover. Revathi Roy, the owner and brain behind Forshe, says her goal is to have 200 cars in five Indian cities by the end of the year.
The truth is that India's public transport system is a failure. In New Delhi, the nation's capital, buses are infrequent, overcrowded, and unsafe for women. The Metro doesn't reach the entire city. Auto-rickshaws, the preferred mode of travel for many, are mostly unavailable at night. And in Mumbai, on the overburdened local railway system, women complain of frequent harassment in the form of lewd remarks, and even molestation.But a new service may be taking a tiny step in the right direction. Forshe (pronounced "for she"), previously named Forsche, is a radio taxi service created exclusively for women, with martial-arts-trained female drivers, and around-the-clock availability. Announced in Delhi last month to much fanfare, the first 20 taxis were launched by Kiran Bedi, the first woman to serve on the Indian police force, who runs the Forshe project in the city.Twenty-five of these taxis have already been operational in Mumbai since Woman's Day 2008. Catering to the rich, the taxi tries to offer up a bit of pampering: a magazine rack, nail clippers, wet wipes, and nail polish remover. Revathi Roy, the owner and brain behind Forshe, says her goal is to have 200 cars in five Indian cities by the end of the year.
