9 states that offer free bus travel to women: Eligibility and documents required

As more and more Indian states adopt populist schemes to woo women voters, bus travel has become free in as many as nine Indian states and Union territories now. With West Bengal and Kerala becoming the latest states to jump on the “free bus travel for women” bandwagon, here’s a look at these schemes in every state.

1. Karnataka

Scheme Name: Shakti Scheme

Scope and exclusions: Covers all non-luxury state road transport corporation buses (KSRTC, BMTC, NWKRTC, KKRTC) within state lines. Excludes premium and AC buses like Rajahamsa, Airavat, and Ambari.

Eligibility and documents: Open to all women and transgender residents of Karnataka. Requires a Shakti Smart Card or a valid government photo ID card showing local domicile (e.g., Aadhaar, Voter ID, Driving Licence).

2. Telangana

Scheme Name: Mahalakshmi Scheme

Scope and Exclusions: Valid on Palle Velugu and Express buses run by the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC). Excludes AC fleets like Pushpak, Metro Luxury, Garuda, and Lahari.

Eligibility and documents: Open to all girls, women, and transgender passengers of Telangana domicile. Passengers must carry a valid physical Aadhaar Card or a state-issued Mahalakshmi Smart Card.

3. Tamil Nadu

Scheme Name: Magalir Vidiyal Payanam Scheme

Scope and exclusions: Applicable only on ordinary fare town buses (whiteboard buses) operated by State Transport Undertakings (STUs). Excludes express and deluxe coaches.

Eligibility and documents: Open to all local women, working professionals, students, transgender individuals, and persons with disabilities accompanied by an attendant. Requires no registration; women are issued a Zero-Fare Ticket inside the bus upon verbal verification.

4. Andhra Pradesh

Scheme Name: Stree Shakti Scheme

Scope and exclusions: Operates across Pallevelugu, Ultra Pallevelugu, City Ordinary, Metro Express, and standard Express routes. Excludes interstate routes, luxury coaches (Super Luxury, Ultra Deluxe), and AC operations.

Eligibility and documents: Open to all girls, women, and transgender persons holding Andhra Pradesh domicile. Proof of residency via Aadhaar or Voter ID is required to secure a Zero-Fare Ticket.

5. Delhi

Scheme Name: Pink Ticket / Pink Saheli Smart Card System

Scope and exclusions: Valid on all city routes operated by the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and Cluster (DIMTS) buses, including standard non-AC and electric variants.

Eligibility and Documents: Open to all women regardless of state residency or domicile. Commuters swap paper single-use pink tokens for a secure digital Smart Travel Card via the transport portal.

6. Punjab

Scheme Name: Free Bus Travel for Women Residents

Scope and exclusions: Valid across government-owned fleets, including Punjab Roadways (PUNBUS) and the Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC). Restricted to ordinary regional and city buses.

Eligibility and documents: Confined strictly to women residents of Punjab. Requires proof of state domicile such as an Aadhaar Card, Voter ID, or Punjab Residence Certificate.

7. Jammu & Kashmir

Scheme Name: Free Women’s Travel Scheme

Scope and exclusions: Functional across Jammu & Kashmir Road Transport Corporation (JKRTC) fleets alongside modern urban Smart City buses.

Eligibility and Documents: Available to all female commuters in the UT upon showing valid identification to bus operators.

8. West Bengal

Scheme Name: Annapurna Yojana-linked Free Bus Scheme (from June 1)

Scope and Exclusions: All state-run transport undertakings operating across both rural networks and Kolkata metropolitan zones.

Eligibility and documents: Designed for women residents matching the eligibility criteria of the concurrent Annapurna monthly income scheme. Details not yet known.

9. Kerala

Scheme Name: KSRTC Free Travel (from June 15)

Scope and exclusions: Details not yet known.

Eligibility and Documents: Details not yet known.