As many as 548 women in Maharashtra, including 465 from Mumbai, have won autorickshaw permits through a lottery process, reported The Times of India. These women will ply special autos on share routes, which will be coloured either pink or light orange, and cater largely to women commuters. The autos may hit the roads by the end of February, the report said.

Maharashtra transport minister Diwakar Raote said, "The women have won through a 5% reservation system, which was introduced for the first time, as we want to encourage them to ply autos and earn a livelihood. The move will also help women who travel alone." However, an official added that the number of women applicants was less than the total permits reserved for them.

Cities such as Delhi, Chennai and Hyderabad (pictured above) already have women autorickshaw drivers.