Women in Punjab get to travel free of cost in all Government-run buses within the state from Thursday, April 1. The cabinet on Wednesday stamped its approval on the scheme which the Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh announced earlier this month.
The Chief Minister had announced the free travel scheme in the Vidhan Sabha on March 5, as part of his government’s efforts to empower women and girls in the state. On March 31, the state cabinet formally approved the scheme. Taking to micro-blogging site Twitter, CM Captain Amarinder Singh wrote: “Happy to share that our Cabinet has approved free travel within the State for all women/girls of Punjab in State Transport buses from 1st April. I’m sure it will be a strong step towards further empowering the women of Punjab.” The scheme would benefit over 1.31 crore women and girls across the state. They will now be able to travel free of cost in public buses, including Punjab Roadways Transport Corporation, Punjab Roadways Buses and city buses run by local bodies.
Further, all women who are family members of Punjab Government employees and residing in Chandigarh or are themselves employees of Punjab government but live in Chandigarh, can avail the benefit, irrespective of age and income criteria, of free travel in the said government buses.
