The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, has approved a major welfare scheme offering free lifetime travel on Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) buses to women aged 60 and above. The initiative, named the Lokmata Ahilyabai Matrushakti Yojana, is expected to benefit more than one crore women across the state.
Free Bus Travel For Women Above 60
Under the new scheme, eligible women aged 60 years and above will be able to travel without paying fares on UPSRTC buses. Women will need to carry either their Aadhaar card or voter ID to establish their identity and age while travelling.
The government estimates that around 88,438 elderly women could use roadways buses every day, while the monthly cost of operating the scheme is expected to be around ₹22.50 crore.
The initiative is intended to make public transportation more affordable for senior women, particularly those travelling for medical treatment, religious visits, family-related work and other essential activities.
Raksha Bandhan Free Travel
The announcement comes just ahead of Raksha Bandhan 2026. Separately, the Uttar Pradesh government has announced a special free-travel facility for women around the festival.
According to the latest government announcement, women will be allowed to travel free on Transport Corporation buses from 6 am on August 27 until midnight on August 29.
This festival-related benefit is separate from the new lifetime scheme for women aged 60 and above.
Government Approves New Electric Buses
The cabinet also approved the purchase of 250 new electric buses for Uttar Pradesh. The new fleet will include 42-seater and 52-seater buses, with an estimated expenditure of around ₹425 crore.
The addition of electric buses is expected to strengthen public transportation while supporting cleaner mobility across the state.
Scheme Fulfils Earlier Poll Promise
The free-travel scheme also fulfils a promise made in the BJP's 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly election manifesto, which included free public transportation for women above 60. The government had already made a budgetary provision for reimbursing UPSRTC for the cost of providing the service.
The timing of the announcement has also attracted political attention because Uttar Pradesh is scheduled to hold its next Assembly election in early 2027. Supporters have welcomed the move as a welfare measure, while its timing has prompted political discussion.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is scheduled to formally launch the lifetime free-travel scheme on August 26.
