Free Bus Ride

Telangana govt reimburses ₹7,400 cr to RTC towards women free travel: Dy CM

Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka on Saturday said the Telangana government has reimbursed over Rs 7,400 crore to the State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) towards women's free travel. Speaking at a programme organised to distribute interest-free loans to Women's Self-Help Groups, Vikramarka said that despite doubts raised by opposition parties and others over the feasibility of providing Rs 20,000 crore in annual interest-free loans, the government had already disbursed Rs 21,632 crore in the first year, setting a record and proving its commitment. "Women have availed 222.50 crore free bus journeys, with the state government reimbursing Rs 7,422 crore to TGSRTC on their behalf, saving them nearly Rs 7,000 crore in travel expenses," he said. Listing the welfare measures implemented by the Congress government, the Deputy CM said 96 lakh families are being provided six kg of fine rice per person free of cost every month. The rice, priced at Rs 50 a kg in the open market, is

Andhra govt to launch free bus travel for women from Aug 15: Minister

Andhra Pradesh Minister K Parthasarathy on Wednesday announced that the state government's flagship free bus travel scheme for women, a key poll promise, will be launched across the state on August 15. The scheme, titled 'Stree Shakti' (Women's Power), is expected to cost Rs 1,942 crore annuallyapproximately Rs 162 crore per monthand aims to empower women by improving access to education, employment, and mobility. "I'm happy to share that free bus travel for women will commence on August 15," said the State Information and Public Relations Minister, adding that the initiative is aimed at empowering women and enhancing their access to opportunities in education, employment, and other sectors. Addressing a press conference at the Secretariat after a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Parthasarathy dismissed reports suggesting the scheme would be limited to select districts. "There were reports that the scheme would be restricted to certain areas, but it ha

Delhi women to get free bus travel via smart cards soon: CM Rekha Gupta

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday announced that her government would soon provide free bus travel cards to all women of the city with an aim to empower them with mobility. Saheli Smart Card, a personalised travel pass carrying the holder's name and photo, will facilitate free rides to women and transgender residents of Delhi aged 12 and above on all DTC and Cluster buses. Laying the foundation stone for a fully automated vehicle testing station (ATS) at the DTC's Nand Nagri Depot, the chief minister said, "This is a symbol of a safer, more transparent, and women-friendly Delhi." "Along with technological upgrades like the ATS, we are also focused on empowering women with mobility. Soon, every woman in Delhi will have access to free bus travel through smart travel cards," she said. The new testing facility, to be developed at a cost of Rs 10 crore, is aimed at enhancing road safety, transparency, and pollution control. Once commissioned, it is expected to digitally test

Passengers slam MSRTC for fare disparity on e-buses with same amenities

The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) has invited the ire of passengers by charging higher fares for electric buses with the same features and facilities by giving them different brand names and colours. Experts and passengers have criticised the state-run corporation for the disparity in fares on the electric Shivneri and Shivai buses. The MSRTC, the country's largest state-run transport undertaking, operates a fleet of nearly 15,000 buses, ranging from non-AC services to premium air-conditioned electric coaches. In January this year, the Maharashtra State Transport Authority (STA) approved a 14.95 per cent hike in the MSRTC bus fares. The corporation charges Rs 21.25 per 6 km on blue 'E-Shivneri' buses and Rs 15.15 for the white-green 'E-Shivai', both built on the Olectra CX2 platform that serves various intercity routes in Maharashtra since inducted in its fleet on a gross cost contract (GCC) model. According to MSRTC sources, the E-Shivneri fleet primarily .

Delhi to replace pink tickets with digital cards for women's free bus rides

The Delhi government will introduce digital travel cards for women to avail free rides in state-run buses, replacing the existing pink tickets, a move that will curb corruption in the ticketing system, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced on Tuesday. Presenting the 2025-26 Budget, Gupta, who also holds the finance portfolio, announced that Rs 12,952 crore has been earmarked for the transport sector to improve public transportation and urban mobility in the capital. To ensure a smoother, corruption-free experience for women using free bus services, Gupta said a new digital travel card will replace the existing pink tickets. "The card will allow women to travel freely on public buses anytime, eliminating corruption linked to ticketing," she said, adding that the entire system will be digitised for better efficiency. "We are committed to providing this service to women corruption will not be tolerated. We will introduce digital travel cards that women can use as often as they need, .

Freebie debate: Growing debt is forcing states to rethink poll promises

Increasing debt burdens are forcing states to reassess poll-time welfare promises, as fiscal constraints make it harder to sustain freebie-driven policies amid growing financial pressures

JBM Ecolife Mobility gets Rs 5,500 cr order for e-buses under PM e-Bus Sewa

JBM Auto Ltd's subsidiary JBM Ecolife Mobility on Wednesday announced securing an order worth Rs 5,500 crore for supply of 1,021 electric buses under the PM e-Bus Sewa Scheme-2. These buses, which are to be delivered over a period of 18 months, will be deployed across 19 cities in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Haryana, JBM Ecolife Mobility said. The deployment period will, however, be for 12 years, it said. "The total order valued at approximately Rs 5,500 crore reinforces its leadership in the electric mobility space and aligns with India's vision for a cleaner and more sustainable public transport ecosystem," it said. The company has already deployed around 2,000 such e-buses in India, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The company's order book now stands at over 11,000 electric buses in various stages of execution. "This order strengthens our commitment to providing world-class, sustainable, and technologically advanced public mobility solutions. With a strong focus on innovation

Ahead of Delhi elections, Kejriwal promises free bus rides for students

Ahead of the Delhi elections, Arvind Kejriwal has promised free bus rides for students if AAP wins, while also urging PM Modi to approve a 50% metro fare discount for students

Delhi, Bihar Assembly elections in 2025 to test the fate of freebies

This year will have the fewest elections of any in the current five-year electoral cycle. What does that mean for welfare schemes?

No proposal to revisit 'Shakti' free bus travel scheme: CM Siddaramaiah

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday said there is no proposal before the government to revisit the 'Shakti' scheme, which provides free bus travel for all women domiciled in the state. Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar had on Wednesday indicated about revisiting the Shakti scheme. "There is no such proposal before the government, he (Shivakumar) only said what some women are saying. I don't know, I was not there. I will speak...." Siddaramaiah said in response to a question regarding the Deputy CM's statement. Speaking to reporters here, he said, "there is no situation for revisiting it at the government level. There is no such intention, there is no such proposal." Noting that many women had tweeted and emailed him about their willingness to pay for travel, and that they don't want free ride, Shivakumar, addressing an event, had said: "let's see, we will all sit and discuss it. They are a section (of women), they may be 5-10 per cent. Let's see, some have honestly

Sikkim announces 100% concession on bus fares for PWDs, BPL women

The Sikkim government on Wednesday announced a 100 per cent concession on bus fares for persons with over 40 per cent disability and women in the BPL category, an official notification said. The order issued by the state transport department said that the facility can be availed of in both intra and inter-state services effective immediately. To avail of the concession, PWDs (persons with disability) must produce a valid Unique Disability ID card issued by the Centre, certifying 40 per cent or above degree of disability. Women in the BPL category must produce a BPL certificate issued by Directorate of Economics, Statistics, Monitoring and Evaluation (DESME), the order added.

20% bus fare hike proposal stirs row over 'Shakti' scheme in Karnataka

Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has proposed a 15-20% bus fee hike, citing massive losses due to free travel scheme for women; government rebukes claims

Karnataka's Shakti scheme records over 100 cr free rides worth Rs 2397 cr

The transport corporations in Karnataka have offered free services to over 100 crore users in five months. The free tickets are worth over Rs 2,397 crore

Karnataka govt to start free bus ride for women in state from June 11

Women in Karnataka can travel for free on government-run buses in the state from Sunday, with the administration rolling out the first of the five poll guarantees of the ruling Congress -- "Shakti" scheme. This free travel service will benefit more than 41.8 lakh women passengers every day and would cost the state exchequer an estimated Rs 4,051.56 crore annually, officials said. The scheme is available for women, who are domiciled in Karnataka, for the journey within the State limits after 1 pm today. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah launched the scheme, which will provide free rides for women and girl students of the state in government buses, from the grand steps of Vidhana Soudha, the seat of Karnataka legislature and secretariat here. Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy were among others present at the event, where logo of the Shakti scheme was unveiled and Shakti smart cards were symbolically issued to five women. Women can apply for the Shakt

K'taka issues orders for 'Shakti' scheme offering free bus ride to women

The Karnataka government on Monday issued orders for the implementation of 'Shakti' scheme under which women can avail free travel in state-run buses with certain conditions, including reservation of 50 per cent seats for men, from June 11. The Congress in its election manifesto had promised free rides for women in government buses and said this was one of the five poll guarantees that would come into effect the day it comes to power in the state. According to the order, the beneficiaries of the scheme should be a domicile of Karnataka. Along with women, transgenders can also make use of the 'Shakti' scheme. The beneficiaries of this scheme can travel only within the state and not in any inter-state buses. All luxury buses such as Rajahamsa, Non-AC sleeper, Vajra, Vayu Vajra, Airavat, Airavat Club Class, Airavat Gold Class, Ambari, Ambari Dream Class, Ambari Utsav Fly Bus, EV Power Plus have been excluded from the purview of the scheme. The government said the benefits of the sche

Delhi to flag off 150 e-buses on Tuesday; free 3 days rides for commuters

These buses emit zero smoke, have CCTV cameras, GPS, 10 panic buttons, ramps for differently abled, etc.

The price India is paying for the largesse doled out by Centre and states

Irrespective of which among the two is more extravagant, it is the country's GDP growth and its rating that take a beating

Free electricity, bus rides to continue if AAP returns to power: Kejriwal

Each MP gets four thousand units of electricity free but when the poor get 200 units of electricity free, then these 'netas' have a problem, he said

How Kejriwal's AAP and Modi's BJP are strikingly similar, and yet different

The two offer the same package - personality cult, populist schemes, inflated claims, etc - but the hard edge to BJP's communalism is missing in AAP, a difference we should celebrate, writes T N Ninan

Free bus rides for women in Delhi from Tuesday as AAP govt scheme kicks off

As per AAP government scheme, conductors will distribute pink tickets having face value of Rs 10 each to women passengers for free-travel