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The Delhi Cabinet has approved the DURGA e-auto scheme, which will allocate 1,300 pink electric autorickshaws to eligible women and transgender residents. The decision, announced on September 23, 2026, combines a self-employment programme with Delhi’s goals for cleaner transport and safer last-mile travel.
The first phase reserves 1,170 e-autos for women and 130 for transgender beneficiaries. The Times of India and The Indian Express reported that each revenue district may receive up to 90 vehicles for women and 10 for transgender applicants.
How the DURGA e-auto scheme will work
DURGA stands for Driving Upliftment and Rozgar for Women/Transgender Green e-Auto. Applications are to be invited through a dedicated portal, although the reports did not provide a launch date for that portal.
Women applicants must be Delhi residents aged 20 to 40 and hold a valid voter identity card, light motor vehicle driving licence and public service vehicle badge. Their combined family income for the 2025–26 financial year must not exceed ₹5 lakh. Neither the applicant nor her family may own a registered transport vehicle or three-wheeler.
The rules reported by both publications also say a woman with more than three children will not qualify. Transgender applicants must meet the age, residence, voter-ID, licence and badge conditions and provide a valid transgender certificate issued by a Delhi district magistrate’s office.
The vehicles will have a mandatory three-year lock-in period, meaning they cannot be sold or transferred during that time. They will carry DURGA branding and identification features designed to make the service recognisable.
Charging and last-mile transport
Charging access will be important to the programme’s viability. Officials cited by The Indian Express said the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation already has charging space in parking areas at 70 metro stations. Linking electric autos to Metro stations could help address early-morning and late-evening travel gaps while giving drivers locations with regular passenger demand.
The government says the scheme is intended to create safe and dignified self-employment, improve the participation of women and transgender people in the transport sector and support clean urban mobility. Officials also expect secondary employment in vehicle servicing, charging and battery recycling.
What applicants should wait for
Cabinet approval establishes the scheme’s framework, but potential applicants should rely on the official portal and final notification for the opening date, documents, financing terms and selection process. News reports describe the eligibility rules but do not replace the formal application instructions.
The programme’s impact will depend on more than the number of permits issued. Affordable finance, accessible charging, passenger demand and timely vehicle delivery will determine whether beneficiaries can earn sustainable incomes. The government has said the scheme’s social and economic results will be assessed periodically.
For now, the confirmed allocation is 1,300 vehicles in the first phase, divided 90% for women and 10% for transgender beneficiaries. Applicants should prepare licence, badge, residence and income documents while waiting for the official application window.
