West Bengal Free Bus Rides For Women Zero Fare Tickets Kolkata

For Maya Som, 67, a change in government in West Bengal has translated into immediate financial relief. She regularly commutes from Rathtala near Dunlop to the bustling markets of Burrabazar to source women s apparel, which she resells in her neighbourhood for... For Maya Som, 67, a change in government in West Bengal has translated into immediate financial relief. She regularly commutes from Rathtala near Dunlop to the bustling markets of Burrabazar to source women’s apparel, which she resells in her neighbourhood for a modest income. Monday’s journey, however, took her by surprise as she waited at the bus stop. The conductor of an air-conditioned bus on route AC 54 inquired about her destination and invited her on board. “This AC bus is very comfortable, and it is also free. What else could you want? I do take AC buses occasionally, but the Rs 70-up, Rs 70-down journey used to cost me Rs 140 daily. Now it is completely free. This government is doing a great thing, and I am thrilled about this,” she told The Indian Express as the conductor handed her a ticket with the fare printed as zero. Passengers boarding state-run buses across West Bengal Monday were greeted with an unexpected twist to their morning commute.As a newly launched welfare scheme came into force statewide, women passengers found themselves being handed “zero-value” tickets instead of being asked for fares, bringing immediate relief to thousands of daily commuters who spend a significant portion of their monthly income on transportation. The initiative, one of the key promises made by the BJP ahead of the Assembly elections, is expected to benefit women travelling on both short- and long-distance state-operated bus services. Authorities have implemented an interim verification process while developing a dedicated smart card system for beneficiaries. For now, women seeking to avail themselves of the facility must carry any one of the identity documents approved by the state government. Som’s sentiment was echoed by younger commuters who often find their limited budgets stretched by transport costs. Laxmi, a Class 12 student heading to Sobhabazar for her coaching classes, said that the waiver frees up a substantial portion of her pocket money. “I am excited. It might not make a massive difference to others, but during the summer, getting on an AC bus for free is a great deal, especially for a student like me who relies on pocket money,” she said. Similarly, Roshini Agarwal, a final-year engineering student, found the launch timing perfect for her career transition. “This is my first day of an internship. My office is in Sector 5, and I had initially planned to take an Uber to work every day because it’s too hot outside. But since the government introduced this new scheme, I tried the bus. The process was seamless; they did not ask me for anything complex, just issued me a printout of a zero-balance ticket. With the round-trip being completely free, it is such a relief since this is an unpaid internship,”