LUCKNOW, Sept. 30 -- Lucknow police have launched a night escort service under Mission Shakti 5.0, giving women travelling alone between 10 pm and 6 am the assurance of a safe ride home by a police response vehicle (PRV).

"The initiative is designed to create a fearless environment for women and to make police support immediately accessible. If a woman is stranded without transport or walking alone at night, a PRV reaches her location and provides safe escort until she arrives at her destination," said Lucknow commissioner of police Amrendra K Sengar.

Since January 1 this year, Lucknow police have facilitated the service in 46 instances, where women callers were safely escorted. On an average day, the city's 112 control room receives ne...