Free bus travel for women: Transport Dept wants Central funds for smart cards

The Transport Department has urged the state government to seek Central funds for preparing smart cards for women availing free travel facility on buses of the state transport undertaking.

Around Rs 10 crore was required for the preparation of smart cards. “If the state government agrees, half of the funding can come from the Centre. The smart cards will enable the department to have real-time data of women availing free bus travel facility,” said a senior government functionary.

Under the existing arrangement, the women availing the free travel facility have to produce their Aadhaar cards while boarding the buses. Once issued, the smart cards would replace Aadhaar cards as identity proof for availing the facility. The bus conductor would have to enter the unique ID of the beneficiary in the electronic ticketing machine. The scheme is not applicable to government-owned AC buses, Volvo buses and HVAC buses.

The populist scheme is bleeding the state transport undertaking as dues running into crores are yet to be reimbursed by the state government to service providers. The government owed over Rs 700 crore to it for providing free bus travel to women till last month.

More women are now travelling in government buses, especially those from lower income group. The increase in the number of women travellers availing the free bus facility has resulted in mounting dues and expenditure. This has also resulted in a drastic dip in the income from bus passes.