Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that women will receive free bus travel during the Raksha Bandhan festival [1].
The initiative aims to increase mobility and safety for women traveling across the state to celebrate the cultural holiday. By removing fare barriers, the government intends to facilitate the traditional gathering of siblings during the festivities [1, 2].
The free-bus scheme is scheduled to run from Aug. 27 to Aug. 29, 2024 [2]. This temporary measure applies to bus services throughout the state of Uttar Pradesh [1, 2].
This announcement continues a broader trend of state-sponsored travel incentives for women in India. According to official data, more than 1.23 crore women have benefited from similar schemes since they were first introduced in 2017 [1].
The government said the goal is to celebrate the cultural significance of the holiday while ensuring women can travel securely. The program is designed to handle the high volume of passengers typically seen during the Raksha Bandhan period [1, 2].
State officials said the move is part of a larger effort to support women's autonomy in public spaces. The temporary suspension of fares is intended to reduce the financial burden on families during a peak travel window [1].
“Women will receive free bus travel during the Raksha Bandhan festival”
The provision of free public transport during major festivals is a recurring strategy used by several Indian state governments to signal support for women's rights and safety. By leveraging state-run bus services, the Uttar Pradesh government is utilizing a high-visibility social welfare tool to increase public accessibility during a period of peak cultural migration.
