Pink power on the move; Delhi's free bus passes for women take off

Pink passes issued to women passengers for free travel on Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and cluster buses have seen significant growth, according to data reported by TOI. In the fiscal year 2020-21, pink tickets represented 25 per cent of total sales, which increased to 28 per cent in 2021-22 and per cent in 2022-23. For the current fiscal year 2023-24, this number has surged to 46 per cent of all tickets sold.

During 2023-24, the DTC reported an average daily ridership of nearly 26 lakh passengers, while cluster buses recorded approximately 16.4 lakh passengers.

The free bus travel scheme for women, initiated by the Delhi government on October 29, 2019, applies to both DTC and cluster buses operated by the Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System Limited (DIMTS). In the last financial year, DTC issued a higher percentage of pink passes, accounting for 48.2 per cent of total daily tickets, compared to 44.4 per cent for cluster buses, noted TOI.


Experts attribute this upward trend to several factors.

Anil Chhikara, a faculty member at the Asian Institute of Transport Development and former deputy commissioner in Delhi's transport department, noted that many working-class individuals rely on this mode of transportation.

"One significant reason is the substantial number of working-class individuals relying on this mode of transportation. Additionally, the higher cost of metro tickets has made the free bus service a more attractive option for many women," he told TOI.

Additionally, concerns about safety on Delhi's roads have led to predominantly male ridership on two-wheelers, further encouraging women to choose the bus service as a safer and more affordable commuting option.

The combined fleet of DTC and cluster buses totals 7,485 vehicles. This includes 1,231 AC CNG buses, 1,878 non-AC CNG buses, and 1,250 electric low-floor buses in the DTC fleet, alongside 750 AC CNG buses, 1,997 non-AC CNG buses, and 379 e-buses in the cluster service.

"This is an important milestone. Delhi has shown how free travel can empower women in the city. The rising number of women bus travellers over the years shows the impact it has created and how much they have benefited from this scheme," transport minister Kailash Gahlot said, adding that the idea was "to provide a safe space, not just free rides".

Gahlot further explained that increasing women's participation in the workforce is essential for social progress and economic growth. Historically, female labor force participation has lagged due to mobility challenges.

"We don't have a metro station nearby, so I used to take an auto first, which cost me Rs 30-40, and then take the metro. But now I prefer using the bus service. It's free, so I end up saving over Rs 1,500 on commuting," Sandhya Prashar, a commuter from Lado Sarai working in Sarai Kale Khan, told TOI.