The free travel facility for women on Punjab’s state transport buses is putting a heavy financial strain on the state transport undertakings. The initiative, which was initially allocated an annual budget of Rs 450 crore, is now costing nearly Rs 800 crore. This includes services provided by Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC), Punbus, and Punjab Roadways.
According to official records from the Punjab Department of Transport, over 3 lakh women use the free bus travel facility daily. During the 2023-24 fiscal year, nearly 11 crore women availed themselves of the service. To meet the rising costs, the department is seeking additional funding from the Social Security and Women and Child Development Department.
However, this populist scheme is putting a significant strain on the state’s finances. Reports reveal that dues totaling over Rs 700 crore are still pending from the state government to service providers. The transport department has raised the issue with the finance department to resolve the outstanding payments.
The increase in the number of women travelers, especially from lower-income groups, has led to a sharp rise in the number of women using the free travel facility. This surge in demand has resulted in rising dues and a significant reduction in income from bus passes. The free travel scheme, which was launched in 2021 under the leadership of former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, currently allows women to travel for free by presenting their Aadhaar card as identification. The bus conductors enter the unique ID number of the beneficiary into the electronic ticketing machine.
In an effort to better track and manage the facility, the transport department has proposed the creation of smart cards for women travelers to collect real-time data. However, the proposal is still awaiting approval from the state government.
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