Kolkata | The West Bengal government on Monday rolled out free travel for women in state-run buses on all routes, with beneficiaries welcoming the step and calling for an increase in the frequency.
Announcing the roll-out, Women and Child Development and Social Welfare Minister Agnimitra Paul said the BJP dispensation has fulfilled the key promise made by the party during the Assembly polls.
She took a ride on a government bus in south Kolkata and was issued a zero-fare ticket. The free ride would be applicable for women in both short and long-distance journeys in state-run buses, the minister said.
"There are many families in Bengal for whom Rs 50 or Rs 100 matters a lot," she said and added that the issue of increasing the revenues of state transport corporations would be looked into.
Asserting that the previous governments in the state never thought of extending the benefit of free bus travel to women, Paul said, "It was our dream for a long time."
The minister said that if any woman offers to pay fares in buses, it would be accepted and appreciated.
She urged everyone using personal vehicles to use public transport at least once a week to reduce fuel consumption.
Paul said that after about six months, ministers should go out in disguise to find out for themselves people's opinion about the government's performance.
Several women appreciated the government's move but stated that the number of government buses plying on roads should increase.
"I am happy, but the frequency of state buses needs to be increased," said Mala Biswas as she boarded a bus from Ballygunge station to her workplace at Park Street in central Kolkata.
She said that the number of state-run buses had decreased sharply since the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Several government-run bus routes have vanished over the last few years, adding to the woes of commuters," said Sumana Singh, travelling by a state-run air-conditioned bus from Gariahat in south Kolkata to Salt Lake Sector five, an IT hub.
Manisha Barman, travelling to Cooch Behar from Siliguri on a bus of the North Bengal State Transport Company with her two daughters, said the nearly 170 km journey to their native village will become easier owing to the scheme.
The state government has said that it will issue digital smart cards that would have the beneficiary's photograph and name, to ensure that there is no misuse of the scheme.
