Getting Around India's Cities
Free Bus Travel for Women
How Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Telangana introduced free bus travel for women, its effects on mobility and jobs, and the costs to transport undertakings.
Several states offer free bus travel for women.
Where
- Delhi (2019).
- Tamil Nadu (2021).
- Karnataka with the Shakti scheme (2023).
- Telangana (2023).
Goals
- Increase women’s mobility and safety.
- Help women reach jobs, education and services.
Effects
- Women’s ridership rose sharply.
- Households save money.
Costs
- Transport undertakings need state reimbursement.
- Crowding increased where fleets were small.
Debate
- Supporters: boosts women’s participation in work and public life.
- Critics: fiscal costs and quality concerns.
Safety
Panic buttons, CCTV and marshals aim to improve safety.
The saved fare
A domestic worker in Bengaluru saves hundreds of rupees a month under the Shakti scheme, letting her take jobs farther away.
Thinking free bus travel is costless
States must fund it.
Key takeaways
- Several states offer free bus travel for women.
- Women's ridership rose.
- States reimburse costs.
- It aims to boost women's work participation.
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