West Bengal's free travel for women reduces private bus ridership
India
West Bengal's free travel program for women, launched on June 1, 2026, has led to a big drop in women passengers on private busses.
The state's main private bus union says its earnings have taken a serious hit since many women now choose free rides on state-run busses instead.
Private bus operators losing money daily
With fuel prices climbing and fares stuck at 2018 rates, private operators say they're losing money every day.
Daily income on some routes is down by up to ₹200 per trip.
Tapan Banerjee, president, JCBS, says the government had talked to them first.
Even with these challenges, private busses are still essential in areas where state services don't reach.