Bengaluru to Launch Sakhi Auto, Women-Only Service on Feb 14

By: WE Staff | Wednesday, 11 February 2026

• Sakhi Auto will be launched in Bengaluru on February 14, 2026
• Sakhi Auto is an all-women auto-rickshaw service driven by women themselves.
• In the end, the service will work toward improving the safety, affordability, and accessibility of women commuters

The southern Indian city of Bengaluru is set to launch a women only auto rickshaw service called Sakhi Auto, where only women drivers will be employed, by the 14th of February, 2026.

The service is expected to make the ride more affordable for the female populace, eliminating any skyrocketing prices, also known as a surge pricing, that is applicable for ride-hailing services.

Sakhi Auto will operate on a fixed and transparent fare system. It will have a base fare of RS 50 for the first 2 kilometer’s, with an additional RS 20 per kilometer. Unlike app-based ride-hailing companies, there will be no variation in the amount due to weather conditions or high demand.

This approach is expected to ensure usability by different classes of users based on their familiarity with digital technology. Significantly, the service carried out 17 transactions in one week, showing that it was already operational before the launch.

The service helps to solve some of the problems, which women commuters face. The project intends to create a safe and comfortable experience for women, given that the drivers are women, so it would be safer, especially when driving alone during the night. It also helps the women generate income through driving.

The fixed pricing model of Sakhi Auto Services ensures that users are not charged additional amounts when there is an increase in demand.

The initiative will add to various women-focused transportation alternatives that are currently operational in India, including women-operated metro coaches, women-driven autos, women-only taxis, and female attendants on school and college buses.

These measures all contribute to providing more mobility opportunities for women and supporting their employment as well as transport-infrastructure sensitivity.