Free Bus Travel for Women.. Yogi Government Takes Key Decision

The BJP government led by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has taken a key decision to provide free bus travel to women aged above 60. The state Cabinet has approved the scheme, which will be implemented under the name ‘Lokmata Ahilyabai Matrushakti Yojana’, Transport Minister Dayashankar Singh announced. The decision comes ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections scheduled to be held next year, giving the new welfare scheme added significance.

The free travel facility will be available on all buses operated by the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation, the minister said. Eligible women can avail themselves of the benefit by showing either their Aadhaar card or voter ID. Around one crore women are expected to benefit from the scheme, while the government will spend Rs 22.50 crore every month on the initiative. Meanwhile, the state government has already announced free travel for women on all state-run buses from 6 am on August 27 to midnight on August 29 as a Raksha Bandhan special.