1,400 Women-Driven Pink E – Rickshaws To Hit Pune Streets Soon
1,400 Women-Driven Pink E - Rickshaws To Hit Pune Streets Soon
The Maharashtra government is preparing to launch the ‘Pink E-Rickshaw’ scheme, aimed at providing women in Pune with safer travel options. As part of the initiative, 1,400 women-driven pink autorickshaws will be introduced in the city within the next two to three months, according to Pune’s Road Transport Office.
Under this scheme, women drivers will only need to cover 10% of the vehicle’s cost. The state government will contribute 20%, and the remaining 70% will be covered by a loan, which the drivers will repay over five years. Eligible applicants must be Pune residents aged 18-35 with a valid driver’s license and a family income below Rs 3 lakh annually.
This initiative, in partnership with the Department of Women and Child Development (WCD), is part of a broader plan to introduce 10,000 such rickshaws across 17 cities in Maharashtra, creating employment opportunities for women.
In Pune, a committee led by the District Collector will oversee the scheme’s implementation, with the WCD Commissioner acting as the controlling officer. If there are more applicants than available vehicles, a lottery system will determine the beneficiaries. The Traffic Police and Transport Department will ensure that only women operate the pink rickshaws.
