Hyderabad: From June 1, women in West Bengal will get free rides on government buses. The new BJP government, after taking charge of Bengal, announced its first two women-oriented schemes—the Annapurna Scheme, which promises monthly financial assistance to women, and free bus travel for women across the state.
Following the announcement, several questions have emerged among citizens. The most important: How many government buses does West Bengal actually have, and can the existing fleet handle the additional passenger load that the scheme is expected to generate?
West Bengal is now set to join a group of states that provide free bus travel for women. Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir already offer similar benefits. Delhi was the pioneer in introducing free bus travel for women and has often been cited as a model for such welfare initiatives.
However, when compared with other states, West Bengal’s government bus fleet appears relatively small.
According to government records, Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) operates 9,094 buses; Karnataka has 26,054 buses; Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) operates around 5,400 buses; Tamil Nadu’s state transport corporation has 14,123 buses; Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) runs 4,088 buses; and Jammu & Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation (JKSRTC) has around 570 buses.
In comparison, West Bengal Transport Corporation (WBTC) has a fleet of approximately 1,537 buses, including recently added vehicles. The comparison has triggered concerns among commuters regarding the availability of buses once the free-travel scheme comes into force.
Speaking with Deccan Chronicle, officials in the Transport Department said surveys have already been conducted to assess the likely impact of the scheme. The department has collected data on the number of women traveling daily on government buses.
According to departmental estimates, around 1.8 lakh women use government buses every day in Kolkata, while the number is close to four lakhs across the state. Sources in the department admitted that the present fleet strength may not be sufficient if passengers rise sharply after the implementation of the scheme. Officials said previous governments did not take significant initiatives to increase the number of state-run buses. The actual impact, they added, will become clear only after June 1.
Women commuters have expressed mixed reactions to the announcement.
Madhumita Sarkar, a private-sector employee in Kolkata, said that government buses are already overcrowded and insufficient in number.
“Many of us depend on shared cabs and autos because government buses are limited and the available buses are often overcrowded. If free travel is introduced without increasing the number of buses, the rush will become even worse. The government should increase the fleet before implementing the scheme,” she said.
At the same time, many women welcomed the proposal and said it would significantly reduce household expenses.
Jayanti Paul, a regular commuter, said daily transportation costs place a burden on many families.
“If there is no fare on government buses for women, it will be a major relief. It will particularly benefit working women, students, and daily commuters. However, safety should also remain a priority,” she said.
Another passenger, Satarupa Dey, said travelling in crowded buses during office hours is already difficult.
“If the government increases the number of buses and improves services, women passengers will be able to travel much more comfortably,” she said.
Many citizens view the scheme as a positive step that could improve women’s mobility and encourage greater use of public transport.
The initiative has also become part of a broader political message on women’s empowerment and safety. BJP Minister Agnimitra Paul recently said women in West Bengal should be free to travel wherever they wish at any time. She also assured that police would prioritise complaints from women and ensure prompt registration of zero FIRs.
Responding to concerns regarding the availability of buses, BJP leaders said transport infrastructure would be strengthened alongside welfare measures.
“We are changing systems that have deteriorated over the years. Free travel for women is an important beginning. Necessary steps will be taken to improve public transport services and increase capacity wherever required,” Paul said.
While the promise of free travel has generated optimism among women commuters, the biggest challenge before the new government may be ensuring that sufficient buses are available to make the scheme effective. For many passengers, the success of the initiative will depend not only on free ride but also on the availability, frequency, and safety of government bus services across West Bengal.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: deccanchronicle.com
