Bengaluru woman shares encounter with female auto driver: 'Earns Rs 45,000, repaid Rs 2.5 lakh loan'

Bengaluru commuter shares experience with female auto driver. (Image: @sneha_prabhu/X)

A Bengaluru auto-rickshaw ride drew attention online after a commuter travelled with a woman driver and shared the experience on social media. The post pointed to the growing number of women working as auto drivers in the city and the support systems helping them take up the job.

The commuter, Sneha, described the experience in a post on X, formerly Twitter. She said the ride started like any other booking but became notable when a woman arrived to pick her up. She wrote, “Booked an auto, lady driver pulls up. My friends got more excited than me lol ‘omg omg it’s a woman driver.’ Obviously had to talk to her.”

Curious about the driver’s journey, Sneha spoke to her during the ride. The conversation offered insight into the training, work routine and earnings of women auto drivers in Bengaluru.

According to Sneha, the driver said she had received training from Namma Yatri. The training lasted around 40 days. The driver said she found driving an electric auto-rickshaw easier compared to traditional vehicles.

The driver also spoke about the financial side of her work. She told Sneha that she had bought the electric auto on loan and had already repaid Rs 2.5 lakh. She said her monthly income is around Rs 45,000 and can sometimes be higher depending on work volume.

Sneha wrote that the driver also shared details about a wider community of women drivers in the city. According to the driver, there are around 300 women auto drivers operating in the Koramangala area.

One point that stood out in the conversation was the driver’s experience on the job. Sneha revealed, “She’s never been teased, said people are mostly supportive. She smiled and said her favourite part is youngsters talking to her at signals. The girls especially talk to her proudly, happily, waving, and smiling. (sic)”

Sneha ended her account with words that reflected her impression of the driver’s attitude towards life and work. It read, “She was just… happy. confident. proud. The whole ride felt insanely wholesome. Sometimes Bengaluru gets it very right.”

booked an auto. lady driver pulls up. my friends got more excited than me lol “omg omg it’s a woman driver.” obviously had to talk to her. > she told me namma yatri trained her for 40days ig, felt that electric auto was easier to ride > got the auto on loan,she has already… pic.twitter.com/2RLvoYkCDC

— sneha (@sneha_prabhu) January 17, 2026

The post quickly gained attention online, with many users responding in the comments section. Several people shared similar experiences of travelling with women auto or cab drivers.

One user wrote, “That is amazing i remember the first time I had this experience it was quite exciting too.” Another user focused on the larger social impact, saying, “Need to normalize more of this.. society needs more women to participate in the economy.”

Others highlighted the importance of women drivers feeling safe and supported in public spaces. One comment read, “This is the best thing I've read all day. The fact that she feels safe and supported by the public is a huge win for Bangalore. More power to her and that group of 300!”

Another user pointed to the role women drivers can play in improving safety for female passengers, especially at night. “Glad to hear that women auto and cab drivers are slowly but steadily increasing in our country, as it would really help in ensuring the safety of women travelling alone, especially at night.”

Some users said they had already noticed more women drivers on Bengaluru roads. One comment stated, “I’ve seen so many of these auto driver ladies around here. It’s actually very cool and very empowering to see.” Another added, “Have travelled in one of these couple of times. May their tribe grow bigger.”

Disclaimer: This report is based on content shared by users on social media platforms. Moneycontrol has not independently verified the details and does not endorse the claims.