The North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC) has sought an additional ₹25 crore from the West Bengal government to continue free bus travel for women through November, after the funds previously provided for the scheme began to run out.
NBSTC Managing Director Ashwini Kumar Roy said the corporation had already submitted the request to the state government. The demand follows the release of approximately ₹23.74 crore to NBSTC in two instalments to compensate it for carrying women passengers without charging fares.
According to the report, the funds received so far have been distributed among NBSTC’s divisions. The corporation has now asked for further financial support to ensure that passenger services remain normal as demand rises during the festival season.
The free-travel provision has led to a significant increase in the number of women using state-run buses in North Bengal, the report said. Advance bookings on long-distance buses for the festive period, particularly around Durga Puja, include a large proportion of women passengers.
The funding request places the cost of a fare-free public transport benefit directly within the operating finances of the state transport corporation. NBSTC is required to maintain services while carrying a growing number of passengers without collecting fares from eligible women, making timely government compensation important for routine bus operations.
The corporation has also decided to resume bus services on several routes across North Bengal before the Puja period. These routes had operated earlier but were subsequently closed for various reasons. The planned restorations include multiple routes in Dinhata, with the corporation citing passenger demand as the basis for bringing them back.
The additional services are expected to coincide with the seasonal increase in travel across the region. NBSTC said the funding would help it maintain passenger services while meeting demand on existing and restored routes.
Roy said the requested ₹25 crore would cover free travel for women on NBSTC buses until November. The next step is for the West Bengal government to consider the corporation’s request and release the additional compensation required for the scheme.
