Currently, nearly 3.5 lakh women utilise the free travel scheme on a daily basis, covering an average distance of 42 kilometres.

Punjab to Streamline Women’s Free Transit Scheme via Digital Smart Cards

The Punjab government is set to transition from Aadhaar cards to specialised smart cards for women availing of the free bus travel facility. According to official sources, these smart cards, currently being issued under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana for cashless health insurance, will now serve a dual purpose by enabling free travel on state transport undertaking buses.

Currently, nearly 3.5 lakh women utilise the free travel scheme on a daily basis, covering an average distance of 42 kilometres. Official sources indicate that while the populist scheme will continue, the move to smart cards is intended to "rationalise expenditure" and ensure the benefit reaches "rightful beneficiaries". The state Transport Department is already floating tenders for the procurement of hand-held devices required to read these cards.

The Health Department, acting as the primary agency for card preparation, is currently surveying beneficiaries, with the cards expected to be issued within the next two months. This shift comes amid reports that the scheme is "bleeding" state transport undertakings. While the annual government allocation for the scheme is Rs 450 crore, the actual cost to the PRTC, Punbus, and Punjab Roadways has reached nearly Rs 800 crore.

A senior government official stated that the move will provide the Transport Department with "real-time data" of beneficiaries, a proposal that is currently pending final state government approval.

Source: The Tribune