At a time when concerns about women’s safety in public transport continue to dominate the urban discourse, FemiRides—a women-for-women mobility platform founded by Behara Vijaya Radhika—is quietly reshaping how women travel while also creating opportunities for them to earn.
The idea behind FemiRides took shape in 2020, Ms. Radhika said, adding, “Women must not only feel safe, but also should be in control of their journeys. Driving is more than a skill, it is freedom, dignity, and livelihood.”
The initiative began on a small scale with just one female driver. “Initially, not many women showed interest due to lack of female instructors. Eventually, a 50-year-old woman came forward and received training. That single step became a turning point, and today over 500 women have learned to drive, supported by a growing team of 50 trained women instructors,” Ms. Radhika said.
However, Ms. Radhika soon realised that long-term plan required training more women, not merely employing them. She registered a women’s driving programme under an ITDA project that was initially approved, only to be withdrawn following a change in the government. Despite the financial setback, she persisted, registering a driving school, starting with one vehicle and gradually expanding to five.
The early years from 2021 to 2024 were marked by resistance, resource constraints, and repeated setbacks. Nevertheless, the platform attracted women from diverse backgrounds, including ASHA workers and Anganwadi teachers, who first joined as learners and later became earners. “Feedback prompted me to replace the male instructor with a female instructor. The first such instructor was hired at ₹25,000 per month. Soon, women began training others, creating a cycle of empowerment,” she said.
In 2023, FemiRides was formally incorporated and launched operations by October. The two-wheeler training and ride service quickly gained traction, enabling women to commute and work independently. Today, the platform offers multiple services, including ride booking, driving school, women driver hire, trips, and tours, and has trained over 500 women. FemiRides operates a fleet of more than 15 cars (including electric vehicles), 60 bikes, and 10 autorickshaws.
She said the safety protocols include GPS monitoring, Aadhaar verification, basic vehicle mechanics training, and continuous ride tracking. Services extend beyond Visakhapatnam and they can also be engaged for longer travel to places such as Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Araku, and Srikakulam. The initiative has partnered with Coromandel, Infosys for CSR-driven training programmes.
Ms. Radhika, with the slogan “Restart. Rebuild. Reset”, said that franchises are planned across Andhra Pradesh, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chhattisgarh, and that two dedicated apps are under development.
(The author Gouthami Paltati is an intern with The Hindu)
Published – December 30, 2025 08:11 pm IST
