Free bus ride scheme gets big thumbs up from women

Ludhiana: The Punjab Government’s path-breaking initiative of allowing free bus travel for the women in the government-owned buses has received big thumbs and has brought smiles on the faces of the women passengers.

One of the woman passenger at Amar Shaheed Sukhdev Interstate Bus Terminal, Shashi, who has been travelling to Amritsar from Ludhiana with her family, said that she used to pay Rs 200 as fare per person and now she would be going without paying any single penny. She said that the free ride is a boon and she was very much happy as this would save enough money.

Sarbjeet Kaur, who has been going to Ferozepur thanked Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh for the special gift of a free bus journey as she had to pay Rs 165 for the journey on this route. She also said that this historic step would also develop a sense of confidence and safety among the women passenger beside the middle class and lower class families will be able to save money.

An overwhelmed Jaspreet Kaur who was in Amritsar bound Punjab roadways bus said that she was spending Rs 200 from Ludhiana to her hometown and back to her hometown (Rs 200 fare of one side) but now this saved money means a lot to her. The travelling into the government-owned buses will be safer and hassle-free, she said. She expressed gratitude towards Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh for this extraordinary decision of the free bus travel facility.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma said that directions have been issued to all bus drivers/conductors to ensure every woman passenger have a safer and hassle-free journey.

He said that the government has also installed a panic button in all the buses for their protection besides these buses have been enabled with GPS technology.

He said that this decision of the Punjab Government would strengthen women empowerment in the state and they would be able to contribute more actively to the socio-economic progress of the state.