5 days ago
Full-fare subsidy for women in local bus ticket in Delhi and Karnataka more successful than Maharashtra's inter-city half ticket: study
Maharashtra's 'half ticket' scheme on intercity bus travel has yielded modest improvements in women's mobility and employment compared to states like Delhi or Karnataka that offer full-fare subsidies for women on buses within the same city, says a new study commissioned by the Sustainable Mobility Network in collaboration with Parisar and Waatavaran Foundation and conducted by Nikore Associates.
Published in July 2025, the study is based on over 2,500 surveys, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews across 10 cities in the states of Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala, West Bengal, and Maharashtra. In Karnataka and Delhi, under state government schemes, women are able to travel in buses free of cost. In Maharashtra, under the Mahila Samman Yojana, women get a 50 per cent concession on tickets on all state buses. Kerala and West Bengal do not have any subsidies.
The study shows that a full subsidy on intracity bus travel is beneficial to urban women in terms of savings and employment, while partial intercity travel subsidies like the one in Maharashtra failed to address the daily commuting needs of many women. It also challenges the belief that fare-free schemes are fiscally unviable by saying that these schemes generate strong economic returns and unlock suppressed demand.
The study argues that subsidies on buses within the city are more aligned with the travel needs of urban women as compared to intercity bus subsidies. It states, 'In full subsidy cities, women save consistently over half of their monthly transport expenses. These savings offer meaningful budget relief, allowing women to redirect resources toward essential household needs such as food, healthcare, and children's education….In cities such as Nagpur and Pune, where fare subsidies apply primarily to intercity or long-distance routes, average monthly savings range from ₹409 to ₹538. These limited outcomes are due to a misalignment between subsidy coverage and women's actual travel patterns, as most of their trips occur within the city limits and are linked to work-related responsibilities. These daily, short-distance journeys often remain fully paid, which limits the overall effectiveness of the subsidy.
Ranajit Gadli, Programme Director at Parisar, an NGO working in the field of urban mobility, said, 'Subsidies on intercity travel help very little with the everyday reality of getting to work, caregiving, or running errands. The demand is for complete fare subsidies on regular, daily routes. Pune and Mumbai's recent fare hike and the ridership drop after it are important indicators of the role of fares in accessibility to public transport in general. Also, the fact that cities don't have gender-specific data limits our ability to gauge the impact of such decisions on women.'
The study suggests that Maharashtra could expand its scheme to cover travel within the city to address the mobility needs of urban women. However, it also warns 'that full subsidies have also triggered operational strain—overcrowding, compromised safety, and negative staff attitudes—due to increased ridership without proportional investment in capacity expansion.'
Soham is a Correspondent with the Indian Express in Pune.
A journalism graduate, he was a fact-checker before joining the Express. Soham currently covers education and is also interested in civic issues, health, human rights, and politics. ... Read More
