'Now we travel with dignity': Free bus rides begin for women in Srinagar

April 4, 2025 by News Desk

Shah Basit

On a bright April morning in Srinagar, women across the city boarded government-run buses with something new in their stride: a quiet confidence. For the first time, they didn’t fumble through their bags for change or glance anxiously at the fare board. The fare, this time, was gratitude — directed at Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, whose government’s decision to grant free travel to women on public buses officially came into effect on April 1.

“I’ve been taking the bus from Shalimar to Lal Chowk every morning for the past three years,” said Zahida, 43, who works at a small bookshop in Srinagar’s bustling city centre. “Some days, I wouldn’t eat breakfast just so I could save enough for both trips. Today, I didn’t have to worry. And that changes everything.”

The initiative, part of the government’s broader Smart City reforms, allows women to travel free of cost in all government-run buses, including the eco-friendly electric buses introduced in the past year. While some critics call it symbolic, for many women — students, domestic workers, vendors, and office-goers — it represents a shift toward inclusion and empathy in governance.

At the Batamaloo bus stand, one of the busiest terminals in the Valley, women could be seen boarding with children in tow, often sharing smiles with conductors and fellow passengers. There were no political flags, no formal announcements — just wordless acknowledgment among the passengers that something had changed.

“I clean homes in Rajbagh and live near Hazratbal. I spend nearly Rs 50 a day on bus fare,” said Shakeela, a domestic worker. “This money may not matter to the rich, but for me it’s what buys my child a notebook or an extra meal. May Allah bless Omar sahib.”

The scheme has also struck a chord with students, many of whom were previously forced to walk miles or borrow money just to attend classes. Huma Wani, a college student from Soura, said, “When you’re a girl in this city, you think twice about every bus ride. This isn’t just a scheme — it’s a message that our government sees us.”

Across social media platforms, too, the sentiment has been overwhelmingly positive. Dozens of videos show girls and women boarding buses, some recording their experiences and thanking the CM directly. “This is real governance,” read one widely shared post. “When policy touches the lives of people who never even dreamt of being noticed.”

Political analysts note that such schemes could deepen the bond between the National Conference and its traditional support base, particularly in urban Srinagar. But for most women boarding buses today, it wasn’t about politics.

“It’s about being seen,” Zahida said again as her bus pulled into the Ghanta Ghar stop. “For once, it feels like the city is not just for men in cars.”