How free e-bus service is emerging as reliable transport mode for women
Srinagar, Feb 22: Every morning as Srinagar city stretches awake and the streets begin to fill with movement, a quiet but powerful change rolls steadily through its roads. Red-colored e-buses glide past markets, schools, hospitals, and neighborhoods, carrying with them not just passengers, but stories of ease, dignity, and growing empowerment.
For thousands of women across the city, the decision to allow free travel has transformed public transport into something far more meaningful than a daily commute.
Introduced by the Omar Abdullah government as part of last year’s budget announcements, the free e-bus service has eased a burden for women from all walks of life — students rushing to classes, working professionals heading to offices, homemakers managing daily tasks, and elderly women navigating the city for health care and family visits.
In a city where transport costs quietly bit away at household budgets, especially for those who travel daily, the initiative has brought visible financial relief and a renewed sense of mobility.
For Mehreen, a postgraduate student at Kashmir University, the e-bus service has altered her everyday routine in ways both practical and emotional. Living on a limited student budget, she relies on the Smart City buses almost daily.
“I have been using this e-bus service for the last one year, and it has helped me a lot,” Mehreen says. “As a PG student, my expenses are already high besides books, projects, and other academic needs. Free bus travel has reduced my daily stress. I can now travel to university without worrying about money.”
She explains that earlier, transport decisions often shaped her academic choices. A missed bus or an unexpected fare could mean skipping a lecture or delaying plans. “Earlier, I would think twice before going somewhere because of transport issues. Now, I feel more independent. I don’t have to ask anyone for money or permission just to attend classes,” she says.
The impact of the free bus service is equally visible among working women, many of whom commute long distances every day. Jameela Tabasum, who works in the city, says the initiative has quietly simplified her life.
“I commute every day for work, and transport was a constant expense,” Jameela says. “This free service has really helped me. It’s reliable, safe, and saves a good amount of money every month. For working women like me, this support matters a lot.”
For Jameela, the savings are not just numerical. They translate into household stability and peace of mind.
“That money can now be used for my children’s needs or other household expenses. When transport becomes easier, women feel more confident about taking up jobs or continuing their studies. This is a very positive step.”
At major bus stops, from busy commercial hubs to quieter residential areas, women now wait with greater confidence. There is less anxiety about fare money, fewer hurried calculations before stepping out of home, and more certainty about reaching destinations on time. The Smart City buses, known for being relatively clean, well-maintained, and scheduled, have made daily travel more predictable. For many women, predictability itself has become a form of comfort.
Inside the buses, the atmosphere reflects a quiet form of empowerment. Young students revise notes with headphones plugged in, office-going keep an eye on the time, and elderly women sit by the windows, watching familiar streets pass by. Conversations begin easily about weather, prices, children, or memories of an older Srinagar.
Among these passengers is Zahida Begum, a 68-year-old woman from Downtown Srinagar, who uses the bus frequently to visit hospitals, relatives, and local markets.
“At this age, walking long distances or paying for taxis every time is not possible,” Zahida Begum says, clutching her handbag as the bus slows at a stop. “Earlier, I would avoid travelling unless it was absolutely necessary. Now, I can move freely.”
She pauses, her eyes softening. “This bus has given me confidence. I don’t feel dependent on anyone to take me places. For an elderly woman, that feeling is very important.”
For Zahida, the free service is also about dignity. “When you don’t have to ask for money or explain why you need to travel, you feel respected. I feel this service understands women like us.”
Her words echo across many similar experiences , women who had slowly reduced their movement due to cost, age, or hesitation are now reclaiming public spaces, one bus ride at a time.
However, the scheme has also sparked discussion within administrative and financial circles. Speaking in the Assembly, Transport Minister Satish Sharma highlighted the financial strain on the system.
“J&K's Smart City buses incur Rs 20 lakh daily losses, with Srinagar at Rs 9.74 lakh per day due to Rs 60.74 per kilometre operational costs against Rs 12 revenue,” Sharma stated. He further added that the free bus scheme contributes to an additional Rs 2 crore in monthly losses.
The figures underscore the economic challenges of sustaining subsidised public transport, even as the social benefits remain visible across the city.
For women like Mehreen, Jameela, and Zahida Begum, the Smart City bus is not merely a vehicle. It is a small but significant step toward independence, dignity, and freedom of movement.
In the steady hum of buses travelling through Srinagar’s roads, a simple message moves along with them: when cities invest in women’s mobility, they invest in a stronger, more equitable future, one journey at a time.
By: Adeela Malik
