New Delhi, Oct 11 (IANS) The Delhi government will soon launch the DURGA (Driving, Upliftment and Rozgar for Women and Transgender) E-Auto Scheme, an initiative aimed at creating safe and dignified self-employment opportunities for women and transgender persons through green mobility, an official said on Sunday.
The scheme, approved by the Delhi Cabinet under the leadership of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, will facilitate the allocation of 1,300 pink electric autos in its first phase. Of the total allocation, 1,170 electric autos will be reserved for women beneficiaries and 130 for transgender beneficiaries, the official said in a statement.
Transport Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh said that the introduction of pink electric autos is expected to support women’s participation in public transport, enhance livelihood opportunities and contribute to a cleaner urban environment.
The availability of women- and transgender-operated autos is also intended to improve commuter confidence and make last-mile journeys more convenient, including during early morning and late evening hours, he said.
The Transport Department has also sought dedicated parking and charging slots from the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) at Metro and Namo Bharat Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) stations to facilitate convenient operations, he said.
The initiative seeks to enable women and transgender persons to become owners and drivers of electric autos, strengthening their economic independence while contributing to a cleaner transport system and improved last-mile connectivity in Delhi, said an official statement.
The Minister said that the DURGA Scheme reflects the Delhi government’s commitment to combining social empowerment with sustainable urban mobility.
“The objective of the DURGA Scheme goes beyond the allocation of electric vehicles. It is about creating opportunities for women and transgender persons to build independent livelihoods, participate more actively in the transport sector and become self-reliant,” he said.
“By promoting electric autos operated by these beneficiaries, we also aim to strengthen public confidence, encourage cleaner mobility and make last-mile transportation more accessible and inclusive,” said Pankaj Kumar Singh.
Under the first phase, a maximum of 90 electric autos for women and up to 10 electric autos for transgender beneficiaries will be allocated in each revenue district, in accordance with the prescribed district-wise quotas and eligibility conditions.
The scheme has been designed to ensure a transparent and structured allocation process through a dedicated digital portal, the statement said.
Beneficiaries will also be eligible to avail applicable purchase incentives under the prevailing Delhi EV Policy 2026, it said.
In addition, aggregators will be asked to provide free onboarding and subscription to DURGA E-Auto drivers, helping beneficiaries connect with digital mobility platforms, it said.
–IANS
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