Punjab Free Travel Scheme For Women In Punjab Roadways / PunBus and PRTC

In 2021 April, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann introduced a historic scheme in which all women and girls of the Punjab will be allowed to travel at free of Cost in Government-aided buses. The scheme is introduced with the name of the Punjab Free Travel Scheme for Women.

All the permanent residents of the Punjab state will be eligible to avail free travel in the Non-AC buses, which are owned by the Government, like PRTC, PUNBUS, etc. The Government buses, which are AC and Volvo, are not included in this scheme. While travelling at free cost in such buses, women or girls should carry their Aadhaar Card or Voter Card, in which their Residence proof is shown. So, check the full procedure of the scheme.

Punjab Free Travel Scheme For Women

Usually, we can see that school-going girls or many of the women travel from their house to their destination by bus. To encourage and promote women’s empowerment, the state government now provide them free travel through government buses. Now, without any financial burden, they can easily travel all over the state. With this, the government is also aiming to make them economically independent. No matter whether you are a school-going girl, a housewife, a professional or a senior citizen, every woman who is above 18 years of age will be eligible for this scheme.

All the eligible women and girls can travel through the Punjab Roadways Transport Corporation, or PEPSU. It will also increase the number of female passengers in public transport. This scheme also works on providing safety and reducing the financial burden on the family.

Overview of Punjab Women’s Free Transit Scheme

Punjab Free Bus Travel Scheme Into Digital Smart Card: Latest Updates

Now, in 2026, to continue this scheme, the government is making plans to make big changes to the scheme. They are going to replace the Aadhaar Card with the Digital Smart cards. In these smart cards, the details of the woman or girl are mentioned, and in this card, there is also a GPS Chip available. So now more people need to carry the old Aadhar Card for verification. As and when the government start distributing the same Digital Smart Travel Card, get that and use it for free travel.

Motive of the Punjab Women Free Bus Travel Scheme

The motive of this scheme is to provide benefits to a large number of women and school-going girls. It will also remove the travel barrier from the economically weaker families for education, their employment and for healthcare. This scheme especially focuses on the women who belong to the middle class family who can now save their daily travel costs with the scheme and can save the same amount for other daily needs.

Not only the financial benefits, but we all know that if the schools are far away from homes, parents are also worried about their security. Now the government also ensure to provide safety, and it will decrease the risk of the parent and can send their girls to school. So, by becoming part of this scheme, they can all easily save money of Rs. 3000 to Rs. 4,000.

Features of the Punjab Free Bus Service For All Women/ Girls

• Buses Included: To get the free travel in the Punjab state, eligible women and girls can only travel through the non-AC Government-aided buses like PRTC, PUNBUS and City Bus services.
• Buses are Not Included: You can get the free travel facilities in the government-aided buses, like AC and VOLVO.
• Travel Area: This scheme is only effective inside the Punjab state. You are not eligible to travel outside the state.
• Beneficiaries: Only the women/girls aged 18 years or above are targeted beneficiaries of the scheme.

Eligibility Criteria

• This scheme is only applicable for the women/Girls of the Punjab state.
• All women who are employees of the Government of Punjab but residing in Chandigarh are also eligible for this scheme.
• There is no income criteria limit for the scheme.
• The women belongs to any age group will be eligible to travel free of cost in this scheme.

Documents Required

So there is no need to apply for this scheme, you just need to carry any of the valid Identity documents with you, which are issued by the government, like:-

• Aadhaar Card
• Voter ID Card
• Or any other specific documents showing your residence proof in Punjab.

NOTE: Kindly carry your original Document with you.

Also Read: Punjab 1000 Rs Scheme

List of Benefits of the Scheme

• No ticket price will be charged in the buses that are included in this scheme. It means this scheme is the Zero Fare Scheme for women of Punjab.
• The government also enhance the mobility in schools and workplaces, and healthcare.
• Provided the financial benefits and also safety and security to the female travellers.
• After saving the daily travel cost, women/girls can easily save Rs. 3K to Rs. 4K every month.

Punjab Free Bus Travel Scheme Apply Process

In this scheme, there is no need to apply. If you are a woman or girl with the above eligibility Criteria, just carry your Aadhar Card or the new Smart Digital Card while travelling. And when the bus conductor asks for your identification, you need to show and then they give you a zero-fare price ticket. Using it, you can travel from your home to your destination in a secure way.

But in 2026, when the government start changing the Old Aadhar Card verification into a Smart Digital Card, then you have to apply for it. We are going to provide the same details to you when the government start inviting applications for it.

FAQ’s