By Chandan Singh | Page 3 News Worldwide | New Delhi 

1,170 electric autos reserved for women and 130 for transgender beneficiaries in first phase

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Government is set to launch the DURGA (Driving, Upliftment and Rozgar for Women and Transgender) E-Auto Scheme, under which 1,300 pink electric autos will be allocated in the first phase to promote self-employment, financial independence and inclusive green mobility.

Approved by the Delhi Cabinet under the leadership of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, the scheme reserves 1,170 electric autos for women and 130 for transgender beneficiaries. It aims to enable beneficiaries to become owners and drivers of electric autos while improving last-mile connectivity across the national capital.

Transport Minister Dr Pankaj Kumar Singh said the initiative was intended to create independent livelihood opportunities for women and transgender persons and encourage their participation in the transport sector.

“The DURGA Scheme is a significant step towards empowering women and transgender persons through sustainable livelihoods, financial independence and green mobility,” he said.

The minister added that the initiative went beyond vehicle allocation, seeking to promote self-reliance, public confidence in local transport services and cleaner urban mobility.

Under the first phase, a maximum of 90 electric autos for women and 10 for transgender beneficiaries will be allocated in each revenue district, subject to the prescribed quotas and eligibility conditions.

Digital application and transparent selection

The Transport Department will use a dedicated digital portal developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC), Delhi, to facilitate applications and allocation. District-level committees chaired by the respective District Magistrates will scrutinise applications, with verification conducted weekly.

Where the number of eligible applicants exceeds the available district quota, beneficiaries will be selected through an online draw of lots to ensure transparency. Selected applicants will receive Letters of Intent following the prescribed procedure.

Registered owners will also be provided with identification cards, DURGA jackets and caps under the scheme.

Beneficiaries will be eligible for applicable purchase incentives under the prevailing Delhi EV Policy 2026. Aggregators will also be asked to provide free onboarding and subscriptions to DURGA E-Auto drivers, helping them connect with digital mobility platforms.

Metro charging facilities planned

To facilitate the operation of the electric autos, the Transport Department has 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.

The government expects the introduction of women- and transgender-operated pink electric autos to expand livelihood opportunities and improve commuter confidence, including during early morning and late evening hours.

A two-phase socio-economic impact assessment will also be conducted to monitor the scheme’s outcomes and evaluate changes in beneficiaries’ livelihoods and economic well-being.

Through the DURGA E-Auto Scheme, the Delhi Government aims to combine sustainable self-employment with transgender inclusion, women’s economic participation and environmentally responsible public transport, while strengthening last-mile connectivity across the capital.