Delhi’s fare-free bus scheme for women: Relief comes with risks

Just days after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) celebrated a milestone of issuing 150 crore pink tickets under Delhi’s Fare–Free Bus Scheme for women, the ongoing struggles of female commuters have come sharply into focus. While the scheme has offered financial relief and convenience to countless women, many still face daily harassment and mental stress, especially during evening peak hours.

A report by Greenpeace India, titled Riding the Justice Route: Free Bus Travel as a Step Towards Gender-Just Public Transport in Delhi, sheds light on the challenges women face despite the scheme’s benefits. While the initiative has been widely praised, the report reveals that around 14% of low-income women reported verbal harassment from male passengers. A troubling 77% of women said they felt unsafe on buses after 5 PM, mainly due to poor lighting and infrequent services in the evenings. The report also highlights persistent harassment, with many women experiencing discomfort while travelling or waiting for buses.

To capture these ground realities, Patriot conducted an on-the-ground assessment, travelling on various bus routes and speaking with women commuters about their daily experiences in the capital.

Experiences from evening peak hours

Delhi’s Fare–Free Bus Scheme was introduced in October 2019 to promote safer and more affordable travel options for women. Through a ‘pink ticket,’ women can travel free in all AC and non-AC buses operated by the Delhi Transport Corporation and the Delhi Integrated Multimodal Transport System.

A common theme among accounts was the routine harassment women face during evening peak hours. Kanishka Jaiswal (35), a regular commuter from Okhla to Daryaganj, shared: “As a woman travelling by bus, I face numerous challenges every day. Despite being aware of the free bus scheme’s benefits, there are countless issues that make the journey uncomfortable.”

She added, “There are no bus marshals on board during peak hours, especially around 5 PM, when most people are leaving their offices. Without marshals, there’s no one on the bus to whom we can report incidents of harassment or misconduct.”

“When the bus is overcrowded, we face various issues. Male passengers sometimes lean on women, claiming they are pushed by the crowd. Additionally, the rush of people boarding and exiting the bus presents another opportunity for harassment—male passengers may inappropriately touch, push, or even grope female passengers,” she explained. Jaiswal, a daily wage worker and the sole earner in her family, relies on the scheme for financial relief but feels vulnerable to harassment.

Malvika Saini (name changed), 26, who works in an IT company, commutes daily from Daryaganj to Badarpur. She described feeling particularly unsafe during evening travel. “When waiting for the bus at the Onida Factory bus stop, I often notice men staring, which makes me feel extremely uncomfortable. When the bus arrives, there is always unnecessary pushing and touching from other passengers. There’s no marshal on board to whom I can report this behaviour. I once informed the ticket collector, but he told me he couldn’t help,” Saini shared, underscoring the lack of immediate support on board.

Another commuter, Shivani Singh (30), who travels on the same route, pointed out an additional safety issue: the frequent presence of pickpockets. “In the past five months, at least six or seven mobile phones have been stolen from the bus on this route. This is quite troubling, and every day I have to take extra precautions, like keeping my phone in my handbag to prevent theft,” Singh explained.

Singh, a receptionist at a private clinic and mother of two daughters, noted that despite these challenges, she continues to use the bus for the cost savings it offers. “It is essential for me to use the bus, as it saves a significant amount of money. However, I constantly feel on guard due to the crowded and sometimes unsafe environment.”

Cleanliness and maintenance issues

Cleanliness and maintenance also emerged as recurring complaints. Ishika Jain (28), who regularly travels from Kashmere Gate to Palam Village, observed that the buses are often poorly maintained. “Passengers with motion sickness often vomit on the bus floor, but no one bothers to clean it up. We are forced to travel in a dirty bus for long distances, and when we confront the driver or ticket collector about it, they simply say it’s not their problem,” she noted.

“Male passengers also frequently take seats reserved for women. They rarely give them up, even when a female passenger is standing beside them. When we ask for the seat, some men insult us, accusing us of freeloading since we travel for free. With no marshals present, we have no one to report these incidents to,” Jain added, expressing her frustration with the lack of accountability.

Lack of supportive staff

Many women also spoke about the unresponsiveness of ticket collectors to complaints. Vaishnavi Singhal (33), a social media executive at a tech startup, commutes daily from Badarpur to Daryaganj. She shared, “The condition of the buses is not satisfactory. The fans don’t work, which makes it even harder to travel when the bus is overcrowded.”

“I am also frustrated with the rude behaviour of ticket collectors. They rarely listen if a female passenger points out a problem or shares her concerns,” Singhal added.

Financial relief

Despite the challenges, the report also highlighted some positive outcomes of the Fare–Free Bus Scheme. Approximately 25% of women have begun using buses regularly, with around 15% being new users. About 75% of women reported a reduction in monthly transport expenses, with many now spending less than Rs 1,000 on transportation. These savings are being redirected towards essential household expenses, with 54% of women using the savings for daily needs and 50% setting aside funds for emergencies.

Furthermore, 88% of the women surveyed stated that the scheme has encouraged them to use buses more frequently, while 87% appreciated the reduced need to walk long distances.

Kusum Kashyap, an LLB student from Delhi University’s north campus, noted that the pink tickets have been particularly helpful for her daily commute from college to home. “The AAP government has done a commendable job by introducing this scheme. It is genuinely beneficial for women commuters who no longer need to worry about travel costs,” Kashyap said.

“We don’t have to ask our parents for money as these free bus rides help us save over Rs 1,000 each month,” she added.

Convenient during daytime

For some, the bus conditions during non-peak daytime hours are more comfortable. Priya Sharma (30), a teacher commuting from Daryaganj to Okhla, expressed appreciation for the scheme. “The free bus scheme has made it so much easier for women to travel across Delhi without worrying about high fares,” she stated.

“This scheme has helped women save significant amounts every month. Additionally, buses during the day are usually empty, making it easier to find seats,” Sharma explained.