Free Bus Service for Women in J&K | 03 Apr 2025

Why in News? 

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister launched the Zero-Ticket Travel Initiative, enabling free bus travel for women across Jammu and Kashmir.  

Key Points

  • Significance of the Initiative: 
    • This initiative allows women to travel free of cost on Smart City e-buses and J&K Road Transport Corporation (JKRTC) buses across the Union Territory. 
    • The CM also inaugurated zero-ticket travel for schoolgirls, highlighting the government's commitment to ensuring safe and convenient transport for young students. 
    • The Zero-Ticket Travel Initiative is part of a broader set of pro-women and pro-poor initiatives aimed at social and economic empowerment. 
  • Financial Sustainability of the Scheme: 
    • He also clarifies that transport operators would not suffer financial losses under this scheme. 
    • The government will compensate JKRTC and Smart City bus services from the state budget. 

PM-eBus Sewa 

  • About: 
    • It aims to enhance urban transportation efficiency and promote Environmentally-Friendly Practices. 
  • Segment A: Augmenting City Bus Services (169 cities): 
    • This segment is dedicated to strengthening urban transportation by 10,000 e-buses under the PPP model. 
    • The initiative recognizes that efficient operations require the development or upgrading of depot infrastructure, alongside the creation of essential behind-the-meter power infrastructure like substations to accommodate the electric buses. 
  • Segment B: Green Urban Mobility Initiatives (181 cities):. 
    • This segment includes enhancing bus priority, improving infrastructure, establishing multimodal interchange facilities, implementing NCMC (National Common Mobility Card)-based Automated Fare Collection Systems, and building necessary charging infrastructure. 
    • By integrating these sustainable practices, the scheme aims to transform urban mobility landscapes.