Free Bus Rides for Women in Jammu & Kashmir: Empowering Women with Accessible Travel
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has announced the introduction of free bus rides for women in Jammu & Kashmir, starting April 1, 2025, allowing women to travel on all government buses by showing their Aadhaar cards.
Starting April 1, 2025, women in Jammu and Kashmir will be able to travel for free on all government-owned buses, including eBuses, by simply showing their Aadhaar cards.
This groundbreaking initiative, announced by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on International Women’s Day, marks a significant stride toward promoting gender equality and reducing the financial burdens women face.
It’s part of the government’s larger goal to empower women and provide them with better access to opportunities like education, employment, and healthcare.
The free bus service will be launched today at 2:30 PM at the SKICC in Srinagar. This initiative is expected to offer women enhanced mobility, allowing them to participate more actively in society and the workforce.
With this initiative, Jammu & Kashmir becomes the seventh Indian state offering free bus rides for women.
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How to Avail the Free Bus Rides for Women in Jammu & Kashmir
To avail the free bus rides, women will need to show their Aadhaar cards to the conductor while boarding any government-operated bus. This simple step will grant them free travel on JKRTC buses, which include inter-state, inter-district, and local services, as well as eBuses.
The Jammu and Kashmir Road Transport Corporation (JKRTC) has already set up a smooth process to implement the new initiative. The conductors have been trained to use POS machines to register passengers by entering their Aadhaar card details. This ensures that the process is quick and efficient.
The free bus rides for women in Jammu & Kashmir will be available across all routes covered by the JKRTC fleet, which operates a total of 488 buses. These buses cater to about 20,000 daily passengers, and the fleet provides services for both local commutes and long-distance travel.
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Why This Initiative Matters
The introduction of free bus rides for women is not just about offering free travel—it’s about creating opportunities. Women from economically disadvantaged backgrounds often struggle to afford the cost of travel, which restricts their ability to access education, healthcare, and employment.
By offering free bus rides, the government is aiming to ease this financial burden and create more opportunities for women.
This initiative will play a significant role in improving women’s mobility and overall quality of life. With better access to public transport, women will have a greater chance to engage in community activities, attend educational institutions, and join the workforce, thus contributing to the economic development of the region.
The Economic Impact of Free Bus Rides for Women
While the initiative will undoubtedly help women, it is also expected to have an impact on the financial side of the JKRTC. The revenue generated by the corporation is anticipated to decrease by as much as 50%.
In the 2023-24 fiscal year, JKRTC generated ₹190.57 crore, with ₹73.16 crore coming from buses and the remaining from truck operations.
With the introduction of free rides for women, the corporation’s revenue from bus fares will decline, but the government has pledged to support the initiative with necessary resources.
The hope is that the social benefits of empowering women and improving their access to key services will outweigh the financial losses in the long run. With more women contributing to society and the workforce, the benefits of this initiative are expected to go beyond immediate economic considerations.
