‘Free bus rides to push up number of female commuters'
The report, 'Beyond Free Rides: A Multi-State Assessment of Women's Bus Fare Subsidy Schemes in Urban India', released by the Sustainable Mobility Network, anchored by Purpose and Asar, is a coalition of 20 organisations, including SwitchON Foundation in Kolkata. The study by Nikore Associates is the first-of-its-kind multi-state analysis of women-focused fare subsidy programmes. Based on over 2,500 surveys, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews across 10 cities in Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala, Bengal and Maharashtra, the study highlights the strong demand for affordable and reliable public transport.
The data highlights how free or subsidised bus fare schemes could change travel behaviour in Durgapur and Kolkata across seven key parameters. In both cities, the largest shift is seen in 'shift to buses' (S1), with 27.8% in Kolkata and 25% in Durgapur, indicating a strong potential to move commuters towards public transport if fares are waived. Travel for work/education (S2) also shows a notable rise in Kolkata (22.5%) compared to Durgapur (13.3%), suggesting greater work or education-related mobility benefits in the state capital.
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"A well-designed fare support scheme can transform these trade-offs into safer, more regular, and dignified bus travel, especially for low-income groups," said Vinay Jaju of SwitchON Foundation.
"When women are already dependent on buses despite financial strain, it shows how impactful fare support can be," said Mitali Nikore, founder and chief economist at Nikore Associates. "Many domestic workers say bus fares consume nearly a third of their monthly income, leaving little for food or education," said Nupur Sarkar of the Civilian Welfare Foundation.
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Time of India
13 hours ago
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‘Free bus rides to push up number of female commuters'
Kolkata: Nearly half of the woman commuters in Kolkata (44.5%) and more than half in Durgapur (62.5%) travel by buses. If fares were waived, 27.8% more in Kolkata and 25% more in Durgapur would shift to buses, according to a new study that underscores the potential of bus fare subsidy schemes to drive inclusive mobility and local economic growth in Bengal. The report, 'Beyond Free Rides: A Multi-State Assessment of Women's Bus Fare Subsidy Schemes in Urban India', released by the Sustainable Mobility Network, anchored by Purpose and Asar, is a coalition of 20 organisations, including SwitchON Foundation in Kolkata. The study by Nikore Associates is the first-of-its-kind multi-state analysis of women-focused fare subsidy programmes. Based on over 2,500 surveys, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews across 10 cities in Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala, Bengal and Maharashtra, the study highlights the strong demand for affordable and reliable public transport. The data highlights how free or subsidised bus fare schemes could change travel behaviour in Durgapur and Kolkata across seven key parameters. In both cities, the largest shift is seen in 'shift to buses' (S1), with 27.8% in Kolkata and 25% in Durgapur, indicating a strong potential to move commuters towards public transport if fares are waived. Travel for work/education (S2) also shows a notable rise in Kolkata (22.5%) compared to Durgapur (13.3%), suggesting greater work or education-related mobility benefits in the state capital. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata "A well-designed fare support scheme can transform these trade-offs into safer, more regular, and dignified bus travel, especially for low-income groups," said Vinay Jaju of SwitchON Foundation. "When women are already dependent on buses despite financial strain, it shows how impactful fare support can be," said Mitali Nikore, founder and chief economist at Nikore Associates. "Many domestic workers say bus fares consume nearly a third of their monthly income, leaving little for food or education," said Nupur Sarkar of the Civilian Welfare Foundation.
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2 days ago
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Maharashtra's 'half ticket' scheme on intercity bus travel has yielded modest improvements in women's mobility and employment compared to states like Delhi or Karnataka that offer full-fare subsidies for women on buses within the same city, says a new study commissioned by the Sustainable Mobility Network in collaboration with Parisar and Waatavaran Foundation and conducted by Nikore Associates. Published in July 2025, the study is based on over 2,500 surveys, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews across 10 cities in the states of Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala, West Bengal, and Maharashtra. In Karnataka and Delhi, under state government schemes, women are able to travel in buses free of cost. In Maharashtra, under the Mahila Samman Yojana, women get a 50 per cent concession on tickets on all state buses. Kerala and West Bengal do not have any subsidies. The study shows that a full subsidy on intracity bus travel is beneficial to urban women in terms of savings and employment, while partial intercity travel subsidies like the one in Maharashtra failed to address the daily commuting needs of many women. It also challenges the belief that fare-free schemes are fiscally unviable by saying that these schemes generate strong economic returns and unlock suppressed demand. The study argues that subsidies on buses within the city are more aligned with the travel needs of urban women as compared to intercity bus subsidies. It states, 'In full subsidy cities, women save consistently over half of their monthly transport expenses. These savings offer meaningful budget relief, allowing women to redirect resources toward essential household needs such as food, healthcare, and children's education….In cities such as Nagpur and Pune, where fare subsidies apply primarily to intercity or long-distance routes, average monthly savings range from ₹409 to ₹538. These limited outcomes are due to a misalignment between subsidy coverage and women's actual travel patterns, as most of their trips occur within the city limits and are linked to work-related responsibilities. These daily, short-distance journeys often remain fully paid, which limits the overall effectiveness of the subsidy. Ranajit Gadli, Programme Director at Parisar, an NGO working in the field of urban mobility, said, 'Subsidies on intercity travel help very little with the everyday reality of getting to work, caregiving, or running errands. The demand is for complete fare subsidies on regular, daily routes. Pune and Mumbai's recent fare hike and the ridership drop after it are important indicators of the role of fares in accessibility to public transport in general. Also, the fact that cities don't have gender-specific data limits our ability to gauge the impact of such decisions on women.' The study suggests that Maharashtra could expand its scheme to cover travel within the city to address the mobility needs of urban women. However, it also warns 'that full subsidies have also triggered operational strain—overcrowding, compromised safety, and negative staff attitudes—due to increased ridership without proportional investment in capacity expansion.' Soham is a Correspondent with the Indian Express in Pune. A journalism graduate, he was a fact-checker before joining the Express. Soham currently covers education and is also interested in civic issues, health, human rights, and politics. ... Read More
