Women auto rickshaws will be Yellow and Orange in colour

Women auto rickshaws to be launched soon will not have the routine black and yellow colours, but will be painted in a different colour for easy identification. In a decision made on Monday, the transport department decided to paint the hood of the motor owned in yellow and rest of the body in Salmon Orange (aboli) colour. These autos are expected to hit the road by May end. Similar provisions are being planned for cabs as well.

Early this year, the state government announced reserving 5 per cent of the new autorickshaw permits for women. The state government has also announced one lakh new auto rickshaw permits across for Mumbai Metropolitan region. However, for other metros the department will issue new licences amounting 25 % of the existing autos.

Transport minister Diwakar Raote, who announced the scheme in January, said: "This will give women drivers a chance to explore a new medium to earn their livelihood." Some 400 plus permits have already been issued.

"We are sure that more women will come ahead and take advantage of the reservation for them. We are also publicising the quota in the non-metro areas of the state so that more women will come ahead," said Raote.

The transport department will be undertaking an online lottery to allot these permits. Of the total new licences, 35,000 new auto permits will be in Mumbai. There are 1.05 Lakh autos in the city so far and Mumbai metropolitan region has 1.6 lakh autos.