West Bengal Free Bus Travel Scheme for Women Notification

Key Points

• The Government of West Bengal will provide free transportation for all women in state-run buses.
• The scheme aims to enhance women’s empowerment and improve access to transport.
• Free travel is available on all short and long route state-run buses, including various public service categories.
• A digital Smart Card with QR code, photo, and name will be issued to beneficiaries upon application.
• Applications for Smart Cards must be submitted to the jurisdictional BDO/SDO.
• Supporting documents for Smart Card issuance include Aadhar, EPIC, PAN, Passport, Driving License, Pension documents, and various government/institutional ID cards.
• Until Smart Cards are issued, women can avail free travel by showing any valid photo ID, receiving a “Zero Value Ticket” from the conductor after verification.
• The scheme will come into effect from June 1st, 2026.

Government Order

Government of West Bengal

Transport Department

12, R. N. Mukherjee Road

Kolkata-700001

No.1723-WT/TPT/18011/30/2026 Kolkata, the 21st May, 2026

NOTIFICATION

Whereas in order to enhance womens’ empowerment and to improve their access to transport facility, Government of West Bengal has decided to implement a scheme for free transportation for women of the state in all state run buses of West Bengal; and

Whereas it is also decided that free transportation shall be provided in all state run buses to all women of West Bengal; and

Whereas it is also decided that this facility will be available in all short route and long route state run buses, for public service in various categories of buses; and

Whereas it is also decided that one Smart Card (digital with QR code) with photo and name of the beneficiary will be issued to each women beneficiary on application, to be submitted to the BDO/SDO having jurisdiction; and

Whereas it is also decided that the said card shall be issued to all women of the state on the basis of supporting documents like (i) Aadhar Card, (ii) Elector’s Photo Identity Card (EPIC), (iii) VB-G RAMG Job Card (Grameen Rozgar Gurantee Card), (iv) Ayushman Bharat Health Card, (v) Driving License, (vi) PAN Card, (vii) Indian Passport, (viii) Pension document with photograph, (ix) Service Identity Cards with photograph issued to employees by Central/State government/PSUs/Public Limited Companies, (x) Official Identity Card issued by Schools/Colleges/Universities and (xi) any other ID card issued by Government of West Bengal and recent photograph of the beneficiary; and

Whereas it is also decided that for immediate rollout and till issuance of smart card, identification of beneficiaries will be allowed on the basis of any Photo ID card as mentioned above issued by competent authority of the Government. Issuance of ‘Zero Value Ticket’/ ‘Thermal Paper Ticket’ will be issued to women commuters upon request to the on-duty Conductor after ID verification;

Now, in view of above, the Governor is pleased to order that free transportation will be provided to all women of West Bengal in all state run buses across the state of West Bengal to enhance women’s empowerment.

This is issued with concurrence of Finance Department vide UO No. : Group R/2026-2027/0018 dated 16.05.2026 and approval of the Cabinet vide No.T-D-2 dated 18.05.2026.

This will come into effect from 1st June, 2026.

By Order of the Governor

(Surendra Gupta, IAS)

Principal Secretary to the Government of West Bengal