The Chief Minister said women and transgender passengers, particularly during the early morning and late evening hours, face challenges related to commuting and safety.
Published: September 23, 2026, 6:43 PM IST
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‘DURGA’ e-auto scheme- Representational AI image
New Delhi: The Delhi government has taken a significant step towards providing women and transgender persons in the capital with safe, clean and dignified employment opportunitiesAt a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister SmtRekha Gupta on Wednesday, the Upliftment and Rozgar for Women/Transgender Green E-Auto, or ‘DURGA’ scheme, was approvedIn the first phase, 1,300 pink electric autos will be allocated.
The Chief Minister said the scheme will give women and transgender persons an opportunity to become owners and drivers of electric autosIt aims to provide them with dignified self-employment and livelihood opportunities while promoting women’s safety, greater participation of transgender persons in the transport sector, last-mile connectivity and clean and sustainable urban transport.
Focus on economic empowerment and safe, inclusive transport
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said empowering women and transgender persons economically while connecting them with safe transport is among the Delhi government’s prioritiesThe ‘DURGA’ scheme is an important initiative in this directionUnder the scheme, women and transgender persons will be able to own and drive electric autosThis will provide them with opportunities for dignified self-employment while also helping make Delhi’s public transport system more accessible and inclusive.
The Chief Minister said women and transgender passengers, particularly during the early morning and late evening hours, face challenges related to commuting and safetyThe ‘DURGA’ scheme has been designed keeping these challenges in mindIts objective is to promote safe transport while creating opportunities for dignified self-employment for women and transgender persons.
1,300 pink electric autos proposed in first phase
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said 1,300 pink electric autos are proposed to be registered under the first phase of the ‘DURGA’ schemeOf these, 1,170 electric autos will be for women and 130 for transgender beneficiariesA maximum of 90 electric autos for women and up to 10 electric autos for transgender beneficiaries will be allocated in each revenue districtApplicants will be able to apply through a dedicated online portal created for the schemeThe benefits of the scheme will be available to applicants who meet the prescribed eligibility criteria.
Women with more than three children not eligible
The ‘DURGA’ scheme lays down conditions for women applicants, including an age of 20 to 40 years, Delhi residency, a valid voter identity card, an LMV driving licence and a PSV badgeA woman with more than three children will not be eligible for the schemeThe woman applicant or her family must not own any registered transport vehicle or three-wheeler, and the family’s income in financial year 2025-26 must not exceed Rs 5 lakhFor transgender applicants, a valid transgender certificate issued by the office of the District Magistrate in Delhi, an age of 20 to 40 years, Delhi residency, a valid voter identity card, an LMV licence and a PSV badge will be mandatory.
Scheme expected to create jobs in allied sectors as well
The e-autos under the ‘DURGA’ scheme will have a mandatory three-year lock-in periodDuring this period, the vehicle cannot be sold, transferred or disposed of in any other mannerA special arrangement has also been proposed to integrate the scheme with the public transport networkThe DMRC has stated that space for EV charging facilities has already been made available in the parking areas of 70 metro stations.
