Women bus passengers rise to 56% on govt buses after free travel scheme

The West Bengal government's free bus travel scheme for women has led to a sharp increase in female ridership on state-run buses within its first week of operation. According to Transport Department sources, the share of women passengers on government buses has increased from around 42–43 percent before the scheme's launch to 56 percent after it came into effect on June 1. Officials said the most significant rise has been recorded on air-conditioned bus services.

Under the scheme, every woman passenger receives a zero-fare ticket. Conductors record the boarding and destination points before issuing a ticket reflecting a fare of ₹0 based on the travel distance. Transport Department officials said the response from women commuters has been overwhelmingly positive, particularly among those who are now choosing AC buses that they previously used less frequently.

To support the initiative, the state Finance Department has allocated ₹12.5 crore each to five state transport corporations. These include Calcutta State Transport Corporation (CSTC), Calcutta Tramways Company (CTC), West Bengal Surface Transport Corporation (WBSTC), South Bengal State Transport Corporation (SBSTC), and North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC). Officials stated that additional reimbursements will be provided monthly once the initial allocation is exhausted.

A survey conducted before the scheme's introduction estimated that between 180,000 and 200,000 passengers use government buses daily across Kolkata and surrounding areas. Current estimates indicate that approximately 25,000 additional passengers have been added since the fare waiver was implemented. Transport Department officials said around 600 AC and non-AC government buses are operating during each service cycle to meet passenger demand across the network.