A public transport system can truly be called reliable only when women can trust it, without hesitation or fear (Hamilton and Jenkins 2000). When women are able to use public transport, it helps reduce social inequalities, promotes gender justice and empowers women to move around the city confidently and without fear (Loukaitou-Sideris 2016, Uteng 2012). Studies indicate that the mobility rate of women in urban India is estimated to be as low as 47% (Goel 2023) and only 48% of the women in urban India are allowed to step out of their house alone (International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) and ICF, 2021).
In that regard, the fare-free bus travel scheme for women in Delhi, launched in October 2019, represents a significant step towards promoting gender equity when it comes to urban mobility. By enabling women to travel without fare in Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and cluster buses, the scheme aimed to enhance their freedom and access to the city. According to the Delhi government’s estimates, over 1,530 million ‘pink tickets’ had been availed as of February 2024, and women’s ridership had increased from 25% in 2020-21 to 33% in 2022-23. The Delhi Government had allocated Rs 340 crore in its 2024-25 budget to sustain the programme.
Unlike domicile restrictions put in the ‘zero ticket’ schemes in Karnataka and Telangana, Delhi’s scheme imposes no distance limits or eligibility restrictions, fostering greater inclusivity. As the scheme marks five years, it prompts questions about its broader impact on systemic gender inequalities such as access to work and education opportunities and patriarchal culture in public spaces. We studied the scheme’s role in shaping women’s mobility and its contribution to creating more equitable and inclusive urban spaces in Delhi.
The study
We used a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative data, to examine women’s bus use in Delhi, the impact of the fare-free bus scheme, and associated challenges. Researchers conducted 20 semi-structured interviews with women from diverse socioeconomic, caste, and religious backgrounds, which complemented a questionnaire-based survey. The interviews identified themes for qualitative analysis and informed the survey design. The survey, conducted at 50 high-traffic bus stops, targeted diverse respondents and collected responses from 510 women of diverse backgrounds. The questionnaire addressed bus use benefits, challenges, and suggestions for reform, with attention to inclusivity and accessibility.
Impact of pink tickets
The survey shows that 45% of women in Delhi never use buses, while 35% are regular users, traveling at least 3-5 days a week. Younger women travel more frequently by bus, but older women use buses more consistently. Among low-income households, 75% of women are regular users, with daily use highest (57%) in households earning Rs 50,000–100,000 per month. The fare-free scheme has increased bus use for 23% of current riders, while 15% of previous non-users now use buses more often.
The scheme has fostered greater independence for women, with two-thirds reporting increased confidence in traveling alone. A homemaker shared, “I wasn’t confident traveling alone, but I’ve learned now.” Similarly, a factory worker noted, “We can board any bus, explore routes, and deboard without worrying about extra costs.” Two in three women reported that the scheme has helped them become more independent in moving around in Delhi, highlighting the scheme’s significance in enhancing mobility. Still, only 16% of women feel they can always travel unaccompanied.
Figure 1. Women’s self-assessment of the impact of fare-free buses
Figure 2. Using the savings from fare-free bus travel
The scheme also reduces physical strain, especially for middle-aged and older women who previously endured long walks in the absence of affordable transport. According to a recent global study, walking is the most common mode of travel by women in Delhi – an estimated 66% of women walk for travel, as against 40% of men who commute by walking (Goel et al. 2022). Free bus access has given women greater flexibility and mobility. As Namrata added, “Now, I can board any bus without worrying about cost, even if I make a mistake.” This independence has fostered confidence and improved quality of mobility for women.
Beyond fares
Despite the promise of fare-free bus passes, many women in Delhi eschew public buses, disillusioned by a system that does not support them. For 56% of respondents, alternative modes like metros and auto-rickshaws are more convenient, offering faster, less crowded, and more reliable travel. Overcrowding and long waiting times remain significant deterrents. The fare-free buses – intended to liberate – remain hostile spaces of discomfort for many women. Even the body rebels – motion sickness, dizziness, the weariness of navigating a city that rarely considers its women.
What women demand is not just fixes; they demand transformation. They imagine buses with women conductors who understand their passengers’ struggles, seats that offer solace to mothers clutching restless toddlers, and vehicles that arrive not as distant promises but as trusted conveyance. They dream of well- and reliably lit bus stops, of marshals trained not in authority but in care, and of shelters that do not just block the rain but protect their right to exist safely in public spaces. They envision a future where electric buses hum with quiet efficiency, carrying not just passengers but hope for a cleaner, kinder world.
But these dreams are fragile, and the stakes are high. A city that ignores its women’s mobility ignores their humanity. Public buses must become more than lumbering vehicles; they must be vessels of dignity, declarations of inclusion, and tools of justice. To step onto a bus should not mean surrendering safety or comfort – it should mean reclaiming one’s place in a city that has long tried to shut its doors. If Delhi truly wishes to move forward, it must let its women move first. Only then can these buses become not just a promise of freedom, but its living proof.
This article was originally published on Ideas for India.
