The public transportation system in Delhi is undergoing a transformation that aims to make it more gender equal and environmentally friendly. The government issued permits to 3,500 e-auto owners, 500 of whom are women, after nearly two decades of having only one woman auto-rickshaw driver. Delhi now has the highest number of women drivers and electric autos of any state in India, with the government issuing permits to 3,500 e-auto owners, 500 of whom are women.
E-autos are not only pollution-free, but they also have a lower per-kilometer operating cost than CNG (compressed natural gas) vehicles. As of Thursday, a kilo of CNG costs $60.01 in Delhi, up $7 in just the month of March.
“For the first time, e-autos are being launched in our state, which is a matter of great pride for the people of Delhi. The blue and lilac coloured autos, which have been flagged off, will start operations from today (Thursday) itself. Keeping the pollution situation of Delhi in mind, we are gradually initiating a paradigm shift in vehicles — from fuel-based to electricity-based. To that end, these electric autos have been introduced, which will now regularly operate in Delhi,” said chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, after flagging off the first batch of e-autos from the government’s IP Estate depot.
Men's automobiles will be blue, while women's automobiles will be lilac in colour. The automobiles have been color-coded to prevent any abuse of the strategy designed to encourage female drivers.
Sources initially reported on the Delhi government's plans to reserve at least 4,000 new permits for electric auto-rickshaws on July 21, last year. There are currently 95,000 registered auto-rickshaws in the city, all of which run on CNG. The number of automobiles registered in Delhi is limited at 100,000.
The Delhi government has agreed to award 4,261 e-auto licences, of which 33 percent (1,406) will be earmarked for women.
Soon after, applications were made available online, and a total of 19,846 male applications were received against a quota of 2,855 e-autos, while 743 female applications were received against a quota of 1,406 e-autos.
Sunita Chaudhary, Delhi's first and, until now, only female auto driver, switched from CNG to an e-auto in 2003. "Women should not be afraid to drive a car. I've been driving one since I was 19, and it's only helped me gain confidence. "I feel liberated and free," she expressed her feelings.
E-autos, according to Kejriwal, have also proven to be a source of employment and empowerment for many people. “At least 3,500 families will now have a livelihood, and Delhi will now have a large fleet of e-autos available for public use. I believe this is a matter of great pride that we have so many women operating e-autos to support their families. Initially, I had doubts regarding the safety of women drivers. I spoke to one Sunita Chaudhary, who has been driving autos since 2003 – it has been 19 years since she started driving an auto — and she reassured me that safety is not a matter of concern. I congratulate all women who have received their e-autos today,” the chief minister said.
Transport minister Kailash Gahlot said there will be a lock-in period of five years on e-auto permit holders, during which time they will not be allowed to transfer ownership, unless in the case of the demise of the permit holder. “E-auto cannot be transferred till then, except in case of death. The vehicle will be driven by permit holder only and e-autos registered in the name of women permit holders will have a different colour. It has also been decided that e-autos allotted under the women quota will be permitted to be transferred only to women drivers, subject to the restriction of five years,” he said.
