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.
- He flagged off the initiative at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC), taking a significant step toward gender-inclusive mobility.
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.