In what can be seen implementing the announcement made by the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah during budget session of Assembly, the UT government will soon issue e-passes to girl students and women in twin capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar for free travel in e-buses.
The Jammu & Kashmir government launched what was envisaged as Zero-Ticket Travel Scheme, offering free bus travel for women, including schoolgirls a month back. However, on account of pre occupation with situational developments across UT, this could not be given formal shape on ground, said a senior government official.
This initiative, aimed at removing mobility barriers besides promoting larger objective of empowerment of women and young girls studying in collges and universities. This is also aimed at promoting accessibility, safety, and empowerment, ensures transportation without financial burden, thereby supporting education and greater independence for women across the region."This isn't just about affordability; it's about accessibility, safety, and creating an environment where women feel empowered to travel freely." The government’s goal is to enable women to easily access education, work, and other essential activities without the burden of travel costs, ultimately fostering greater independence, explained the official.
According to the official, the process of issuing these e-passes will begin within a week. Presently, women and girl students can travel for free in state e-buses by collecting zero-fare tickets. However, with the introduction of digital e-passes, this physical ticketing system will be replaced with a seamless, app-based process.
The facility will be available through an App which is already being used for digital payments and issuing monthly passes. This transition will not only make travel easier and faster for women, but it will also help the government maintain accurate data on the number of female passengers using the free travel facility. This data can further be used to enhance transportation services for women in the future.
The government has also launched a multi-city mobility card (MCMC) . This card can be used not only in the e-buses of Jammu and Srinagar but also in other transit systems like the Delhi Metro, promoting inter-city smart travel.
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