Fare-free Bus Travel Scheme for Women: Lessons from Delhi
Delhi introduced India’s first fare-free public transport (FFPT) scheme in 2019, allowing women to travel for free on government buses. The initiative aimed to enhance women’s mobility and safety. Between 2019 and 2023, women’s share of daily ridership increased by 20 percent, though challenges such as overcrowding and noncompliance with seat reservations persist. This paper examines the scheme’s impact on transport equity, access to opportunities, and travel safety based on data from 2,010 women surveyed in June 2023.
In 2019, Delhi introduced India’s first fare-free public transport (FFPT) scheme, enabling women to travel for free in government buses. The scheme aimed to empower women by providing safer public transport. Delhi’s FFPT scheme has drawn a mixed response from citizens, experts, and policymakers.
This working paper presents an in-depth examination of the FFPT scheme’s effects on female bus users in Delhi. It aims to answer the question of how Delhi’s FFPT scheme impacts transport equity, access to opportunities, and travel safety among female bus users.
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Shaping Inclusive Cities with Gender-Responsive Mobility Systems
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