Under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab government has taken a historic step towards women’s empowerment and social inclusion by launching a free bus service for all women across the state.
This wide-reaching welfare scheme is not limited to any one group but grants travel rights in Punjab Roadways and PRTC buses to every woman — whether a student, working professional, homemaker or senior citizen.
The initiative is benefiting lakhs of women daily, with the Transport Department reporting a significant rise in the number of female passengers using public transport. Officials said the scheme has played a transformative role in enhancing economic independence and mobility among women.
As a special component of this plan, a dedicated free bus service has also been launched for government school girls. Nearly 200 government schools are now offering free transportation to ensure the safety of girl students and reduce the financial burden on families.
Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said the transport facility is benefiting a total of 10,448 students, including 7,698 girls and 2,740 boys. The service is operational in various government schools, including 118 Schools of Eminence.
However, some people have misunderstood this initiative as being limited only to schoolgirls, whereas it is actually part of the larger vision of the Punjab government, which provides free bus service to all women.
Punjab’s free bus scheme is extensive and applies to all government buses operating across the state. The primary objective is to eliminate economic barriers to mobility for women and ensure easier access to education, employment, healthcare and social activities.
Whether commuting to work, visiting a hospital, travelling to meet relatives or going shopping, women can avail free travel in every situation. The scheme has proven particularly beneficial for women from lower and middle-income families, for whom daily transportation was a financial burden. The savings can now be used to support household needs.
The dedicated school bus service is an important but relatively small part of the larger scheme. Data shows that 4,304 girls travel 10 to 20 km daily to reach school, while 1,002 travel more than 20 km. Previously, covering such distances was not only unsafe but financially challenging for families, resulting in many girls dropping out.
Under the scheme, the per-student transport cost is ₹1,200, of which the Punjab government pays 80% (₹960), while parents pay only 20% (₹240). This is significantly lower than private school transport charges. School Management Committees oversee the transport arrangements to ensure transparency and local participation.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann emphasised that the government’s priority is to provide equal opportunities and facilities to all women in the state. “We launched the free bus service for every woman in Punjab because we believe that women’s economic independence and mobility are essential for society’s progress.
The dedicated bus service for schoolgirls is only one part of the broader scheme, not the entire initiative. We want every woman — of all ages and backgrounds — to travel without any worries,” he said. He added that the scheme is not only an economic relief measure but also a step towards ensuring equal status for women in society.
In Ferozepur district’s SGRM Girls School, 712 girls are using the free bus service — the highest number in the state. Additionally, 645 girls in Mal Road Government School (Bathinda), 466 in Nehru Garden Girls School (Jalandhar), 399 in Kotkapura, 300 in Anandpur Sahib Girls School and 200 in Govindgarh Girls School (Fatehgarh Sahib) are benefitting from the service. These regions have seen a notable decline in school dropout rates among girls.
Meanwhile, the wider free bus scheme continues to benefit thousands of working women, nurses, teachers, college students and homemakers. Simranjit Kaur, a working woman from Ludhiana, said, “Earlier, I spent ₹100–150 every day travelling to the office. Now, I use the free bus service and save ₹3,000–4,000 monthly, which I spend on my children’s education.”
The school bus initiative is also part of the School of Eminence programme, a flagship education mission under the Mann government. These schools offer smart classrooms, advanced science labs, extensive sports facilities and NIFT-designed free uniforms. Enrolment has risen from 82,000 to over 2 lakh students, with 158 students clearing the JEE exam.
This demonstrates that government schools can match private institutions when provided with proper resources. One parent said, “Earlier, we thought it would be difficult to send our daughter to school after Class 8 because the school was far away. Now, that worry is gone and she can pursue her dreams.”
The initiative has received widespread appreciation. Educationist Dr Amarjeet Kaur said, “Punjab’s free bus scheme is not just a transportation facility; it is a tool for social and economic transformation. When all women can travel freely, true equality becomes visible. This is a model for the entire country.”
Women’s rights activist Jaspreet Kaur said, “This scheme shows that when a government truly understands women’s needs and acts on them, real change happens. Women in Punjab today feel more independent and empowered because of this initiative.”
Punjab’s free bus scheme stands as a strong step toward women’s empowerment, economic inclusion and educational equity. It is creating real change at the grassroots level — every woman commuting for free, every girl reaching school safely and every family saving transportation costs are testimonies to the government’s commitment. The Mann government’s initiative is poised to inspire future generations and position Punjab as a leading state in women’s empowerment.