Pune: 1,400 Women-Driven Pink Autorickshaws to Hit the Streets Soon

Pune women will soon have a safer and more convenient way to commute as the Maharashtra Government prepares to launch the ‘Pink E-Rickshaw’ Scheme. This initiative is designed to provide women with safer transportation options by introducing 1,400 women-driven autorickshaws in the city within the next two to three months, according to the Pune Road Transport Office (RTO).

Under this scheme, women drivers will need to bear only 10% of the vehicle’s cost. The state government will cover 20%, and the remaining 70% will be provided as a loan, repayable over five years. Eligible applicants include Pune residents aged between 18 and 35, who have a valid driver’s license and a family income below Rs 3 lakh per annum.

Deputy RTO Swapnil Bhosle stated that the government, in collaboration with the Department of Women and Child Development (WCD), plans to introduce 10,000 autorickshaws across 17 major cities, including Mumbai, Nashik, Nagpur, and Thane, to promote job opportunities for women drivers. In Pune alone, 1,400 pink e-rickshaws will soon be operational.

A committee led by the District Collector will supervise the scheme, with the WCD Commissioner in Pune acting as the controlling officer. In cases where the number of applications exceeds the quota, a lottery system will determine the beneficiaries. Additionally, the Traffic Police and Transport Department will ensure that these pink e-rickshaws are operated exclusively by women.