The cabinet, led by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, approved the Durga scheme to bring 1,300 electric autorickshaws into the city’s app ecosystem, earmarking 1,170 for women and 130 for transgender operators.
Transport Minister Dr Pankaj Kumar Singh said the move aims to boost women's economic independence and close the last‑mile gap for commuters who rely on Metro services after dusk.
The scheme uses a dedicated online portal run by the National Informatics Centre; district magistrates will vet applications weekly, with excess applicants drawn by lottery.
Yet, if ride‑hailing platforms such as Uber and Ola agree to list the pink autos, drivers will dodge the usual ₹1,000 onboarding fee, and commuters can book a ride through their phones instead of scrambling on the road.
The government is also pushing for dedicated parking and charging bays at 13 Metro stations, and the Delhi EV Policy 2026 offers a ₹50,000 incentive for first‑year registrations.
A two‑phase impact study will gauge whether the scheme lifts incomes, with the first phase slated to begin next month; meanwhile, commuters like 32‑year‑old Asha Patel—who works at a textile factory—say the new autos could cut her daily commute by 15 minutes.