Women’s Free Bus Scheme Expands in Punjab with New Buses, CCTV, GPS and Smart Ticketing

The Aam Aadmi Party-led Punjab government has expanded free bus travel for women, a scheme first introduced by the party in Delhi, helping working women save significantly on daily commuting costs.Women passengers save an estimated ₹50–100 per day on travel, translating to ₹1,500–3,000 a month and ₹20,000–25,000 annually. The scheme enables women to commute for work, school drop-offs and personal travel without fare expenses.At present, 2,267 government buses operate across Punjab, including 1,119 under PUNBUS and the remainder under PRTC. Free travel for women is available on all these services. Officials said safety measures such as CCTV cameras and GPS tracking have been installed in new buses, contributing to higher ridership among women.1,279

New Buses PlannedThe Punjab government has announced plans to add 1,279 buses to the public transport fleet. Of these, 796 buses will be purchased while 483 will be taken on lease. PUNBUS is set to receive 602 buses, increasing its fleet strength to 1,721, while PRTC will get 670 buses.The new buses will include features such as wheelchair access, BS-VI compliant engines, LED lighting, fire detection systems and enhanced safety infrastructure.Digital Ticketing RolloutA digital ticketing system is being rolled out across the state, allowing passengers to book tickets through a mobile application, track live bus locations and make payments using QR codes, UPI or cards. Women passengers will continue to travel free of cost using smart cards.Five Bus Terminals to Be ModernisedPunjab Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar said that bus terminals in Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Sangrur, Patiala and Bathinda will be modernised under the public-private partnership (PPP) model.According to official data, Ludhiana and Jalandhar terminals handle between 75,000 and one lakh passengers daily, while Patiala and Bathinda see around 50,000 passengers each day.The upgraded terminals will include improved waiting areas, sanitation facilities, lighting, organised parking and safer boarding systems, along with barrier-free access for elderly and disabled passengers. Commercial spaces such as shops and offices will also be developed as part of the upgrade.Transport VisionThe AAP-led Punjab government said the transport initiatives aim to improve affordability, safety and accessibility in public transport. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the government said it is working to modernise bus services while expanding benefits for women commuters.