Several state governments have announced a unique gift for women: free bus travel. This is in honor of the beloved festival of Raksha Bandhan, which will be celebrated on Saturday, August 9. These programs are meant to make it easier and cheaper for women to see their brothers and families during the holidays. Here is a list of the free bus travel programs and other incentives that different states have established.
A Three-Day Travel Window in Uttar Pradesh
Women can now ride for free on all Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) and city buses, according to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Since 2017, the benefit has been available for three full days, from 6 a.m. on August 8 to midnight on August 10. The administration has ordered that enough buses be put on both urban and rural routes around the state to handle the expected increase in passenger traffic.
Haryana: Women and children can ride for free
Women and children under 15 would be permitted to ride state-run buses for free in Haryana. Anil Vij, the Minister of Transport, said that the program will be in effect from noon on August 8 till midnight on August 9. This deal is good for more than just travel inside the state. It also works for buses going to Delhi and Chandigarh.
Two Days of Free Travel in Rajasthan
For the first time, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma has made the Raksha Bandhan travel incentive last for two days. On August 9 and 10, women and girls can ride all state-run buses in Rajasthan for free. The state’s transportation department has given an official order, and the government will have to pay for this project, which would cost about ₹14 crore.
Madhya Pradesh: Free Rides and Money Gifts
The Madhya Pradesh administration has said that it will celebrate Rakhi in many different ways. On August 9, women can ride all city buses in Bhopal and Indore for free. Also, women who qualify for the “Ladli Behna Yojana” would get a bonus of ₹1,500 and a special gift of ₹250 during the holidays. This is part of a wider payment in which the state has given ₹43.9 crore to more than 28 lakh women, which also includes money for LPG cylinders.
Uttarakhand and the Tricity Area: Keeping Up a Tradition
Uttarakhand is keeping up its yearly custom of giving women and children free bus rides on Raksha Bandhan. The state transport corporation gives out the benefit. The Chandigarh Administration has also said that women can ride local AC and non-AC buses for free on August 9 in the Tricity area (Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula). But this discount doesn’t apply to long-distance buses that go outside of the Tricity area.
Also, it’s crucial to remember that women in a few other states, like Punjab, Karnataka, and Delhi, already get to ride certain state-run buses for free all year round.