Last Updated: 29 Oct 2024
Saving of ₹3000 per family annually on an average[1]
-- ~150 crore women ridership since its introduction[2][3]
-- 45+ crore women passenger free rides in buses in 2023-24[3:1]
Rising Women rideship[4]: 46% in 2023-24 from just 25% in 2020-21 i.e. More Sense of Security
Free Bus travel for women started in October 2019[5] by AAP Govt in Delhi
¶ Free Bus -> Women Empowerment
- Women Security: More women presence in Buses = More Sense of Security
| Year | Women Ridership[4:1] |
|---|---|
| 2020-21 | 25% |
| 2021-22 | 28% |
| 2022-23 | 33% |
| 2023-24 | 46% |
- Encourage Women in Education/Work: Free mobility and convenience for women to encourage their participation in Delhi's labour force
- Extra Money: Puts extra savings into the hands of women
Delhi Case Study:
"Participation of women in the workforce is a critical driver of social advancement and economic expansion. In the past, female labour force participation has remained below average due to a lack of opportunities to assist women's mobility"
-- Kailash Gahlot, Transport Minister, Delhi
¶ Growing Network & Facilities
¶ Positive women testimonies
“I had a student bus pass which cost me Rs 500 every semester, but there were students who would come infrequently to class because of the travel strain. I think attendance in classes can definitely improve with this,”
-- Deepmala (25), MA from Delhi University[5:1]
“For someone like me, spending Rs 40 every day to travel means a lot… I am going to save over Rs 1,000 a month,”
-- Leela [5:2]
“I would take Uber and Ola, but once it became free, I stopped taking any other mode of transportation. The same goes for my house help; the free rides have helped her immensely as she saves money on commuting,”
-- Monica (25), works in Embassy of Span[2:1]
“I wish there was a pink ticket in Uttar Pradesh buses too. Metro is expensive and I don’t take it at all. Even for health emergencies, I go to Delhi hospitals only because of the free ticket.”
-- Mubina Parveen (35), a factory worker living in Noida[2:2]
REFERENCES:
https://ddc.delhi.gov.in/sites/default/files/multimedia-assets/report_impact_of_subsidy_in_delhi.pdf ↩︎
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/delhis-100-crore-question-what-does-a-free-bus-ride-mean-woman-8519082/lite/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/delhi-over-45-crore-free-bus-trips-for-women-more-than-62l-old-vehicles-deregistered/articleshow/108151181.cms ↩︎ ↩︎
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/rise-in-women-utilizing-free-bus-passes-in-delhi/articleshow/114195186.cms ↩︎ ↩︎
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/delhi-govt-free-bus-rides-women-student-pink-tickets-dtc-6093509/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
