From 100 to 2,000: Women take the driver’s seat in Bengaluru’s autorickshaws

When Mumtaz Afreen pulls up in her blue electric auto for a pick-up, she says the first reaction is almost always one of surprise. “There’s a small shock at first. But most passengers, especially women, are very happy. They start conversations and ask me how I learnt riding and what it feels like to be on the road,” she said. 

Ms. Afreen, who has been riding for the past six months, is among 2,000 women autorickshaw drivers now working across Bengaluru.