Gandhinagar e-bus: 2,254 women travel free on Raksha Bandhan 2025
Synopsis
On Raksha Bandhan, the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation waived e-bus fares for all women — over 2,254 boarded free, with 202 children tagging along at no cost. A small civic gesture, but one that puts the city's green-transport network at the centre of a community welfare story.
Key Takeaways
The Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation (GMC) introduced a free e-bus fare waiver for women on Raksha Bandhan, 28 August .
More than 2,254 women travelled free; a further 202 young children accompanying them were also exempt from fares.
Total e-bus ridership on the day reached 6,381 passengers .
Buses ran until late at night; the GMC projected the final beneficiary count would rise to between 3,000 and 3,200 .
The initiative was implemented under the guidance of the Municipal Commissioner , with all scheduled routes maintained throughout the day.
More than 2,254 women in Gandhinagar rode the city's e-buses free of charge on 28 August as the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation (GMC) introduced a special fare waiver for the Raksha Bandhan festival, enabling sisters across the city to travel to their brothers without purchasing a ticket.
How the Initiative Worked
The GMC's transport department maintained regular services across all designated routes to manage the festival rush. Alongside the 2,254 women who travelled without tickets, a further 202 young children accompanying them were also allowed to board free. In total, 6,381 passengers used Gandhinagar's e-bus network during the day.
Officials said the arrangement was rolled out under the guidance of the Municipal Commissioner, with buses continuing to operate on various routes until late at night. The corporation projected that the combined number of women and children who availed the fare-free facility would rise to between 3,000 and 3,200 once final figures were tallied.
Why the GMC Introduced the Waiver
Raksha Bandhan traditionally sees sisters travel across cities to tie rakhis and meet their brothers, making affordable transport a practical concern on the festival day. The GMC framed the initiative as a measure to support women's mobility and provide a safe, affordable public transport option during a high-footfall occasion.
Notably, the waiver also aligns with the corporation's broader stated goal of strengthening citizen-oriented services while prioritising environmental protection — Gandhinagar's e-bus fleet being a key part of that green-transport push.
Passenger Experience on the Day
Officials said passengers did not face inconvenience at bus stands, with the transport department specifically tasked with keeping services smooth across all scheduled routes throughout the day. The festival-day arrangement was described as a temporary fare-free facility limited to women and accompanying children.
What Comes Next
The GMC has indicated it will continue efforts to expand citizen-oriented public transport services. The Raksha Bandhan waiver, while a one-day measure, signals the corporation's intent to use the e-bus network as a platform for community welfare initiatives going forward.
Point of View
High-visibility civic gesture — but it also quietly makes the case for Gandhinagar's e-bus network as a community asset rather than just an urban transport utility. The more substantive question is whether such targeted waivers will be institutionalised or remain festival-specific optics. With women's safety and mobility a persistent policy gap in Indian cities, a structured monthly free-travel window — rather than a single festive day — would carry far greater impact. The numbers, though modest, show latent demand: over a third of the day's ridership was women travelling fare-free, suggesting price remains a real barrier to regular use.
NationPress
28 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Gandhinagar e-bus free travel scheme on Raksha Bandhan?
The Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation offered a one-day fare waiver on its e-bus network for all women on 28 August, coinciding with Raksha Bandhan. Women could board any scheduled e-bus route without purchasing a ticket, and young children accompanying them were also allowed to travel free.
How many women benefited from the free e-bus scheme?
More than 2,254 women availed the free travel facility during the day. An additional 202 young children travelling with them also boarded at no cost. With buses running until late at night, the GMC projected the total beneficiary count would reach between 3,000 and 3,200.
Why did the GMC introduce the Raksha Bandhan fare waiver?
The corporation introduced the waiver to facilitate convenient, affordable, and safe travel for women on Raksha Bandhan — a festival that traditionally involves sisters travelling across the city to meet their brothers and tie rakhis. The initiative also aligns with the GMC's broader citizen-welfare and green-transport goals.
Were regular e-bus services disrupted on Raksha Bandhan?
No. Officials confirmed that regular bus operations were maintained across all designated routes throughout the day to handle the festival rush. Passengers did not face inconvenience at bus stands, and services continued until late at night.
Is the free e-bus scheme for women in Gandhinagar a permanent arrangement?
No, the fare waiver was a temporary, festival-specific measure introduced for Raksha Bandhan 2025. The GMC has stated it will continue efforts to strengthen citizen-oriented transport services, but has not announced a permanent free-travel policy for women.
