56,000 Women Get Free Bus Rides In Indore On Raksha Bandhan

More than 56,000 women benefited from the free bus travel facility offered by Atal Indore City Transport Services Limited (AICTSL) in Indore during Raksha Bandhan.

The free travel facility was available to women for 48 hours, from 6 am on August 27 to 6 am on August 29. During this period, women travelling from Indore to other cities, as well as those arriving in Indore, were not charged fares.

Nearly 50,000 women travelled free of cost on intercity charter buses, while more than 6,000 used city buses and i-Buses without paying fares. Buses operated on major routes, including Bhopal, Ujjain, Ratlam, Neemuch, Mandsaur, Khargone, Dhar, Jhabua, Shajapur, Guna, Ashoknagar and Biaora.

A large number of women used the buses to visit their families and tie rakhis on their brothers’ wrists. According to AICTSL, city buses normally carry around 5,000 to 6,000 passengers daily. During festivals, the number rises to between 8,000 and 9,000, with women accounting for nearly 40% of passengers.

More than 150 intercity charter bus trips are operated daily. Crowds of women were seen at major bus stops and along key routes from early morning on Raksha Bandhan. Buses remained crowded as women travelled to their maternal homes, many accompanied by family members.

Several women also used the free city bus and i-Bus services to travel within Indore. The move by AICTSL was seen as a welcome gesture, allowing women to travel safely and conveniently during the festival.

The success of the free bus travel facility can be gauged from the fact that over 56,000 women availed of the service, highlighting the importance of such initiatives in promoting women's mobility and empowerment.

In conclusion, the free bus travel facility offered by AICTSL in Indore during Raksha Bandhan was a significant step towards promoting women's mobility and empowerment. The initiative not only allowed women to travel safely and conveniently but also highlighted the importance of such measures in promoting gender equality and social inclusion.