Has the Rajkot Civic Body Started Free Bus Travel for Women on Bhai Beej?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Free travel for women on Bhai Beej.
- Celebration of the bond between brothers and sisters.
- Approximately 54,000 daily passengers in Rajkot.
- Annual tradition by the Rajkot Municipal Corporation.
- Public transport includes 206 city buses and 32 BRTS buses.
Rajkot, Oct 19 (NationPress) The Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) has declared a special initiative for Bhai Beej, allowing free travel for all sisters and women passengers on city buses and the bus rapid transit system (BRTS) routes. This announcement was made on Sunday in honor of the festival that celebrates the sacred connection between brothers and sisters.
This initiative, which has now become a cherished annual custom, will take effect on all city routes this Thursday.
According to officials from the RMC, approximately 54,000 passengers rely on public transport in Rajkot every day, including around 24,000 on city buses and 30,000 using BRTS services.
During the celebration of Bhai Beej, women utilizing these transport services will not need to buy tickets.
The municipal body operates 206 city buses and 32 BRTS buses daily to serve the commuters across Rajkot.
As per the 2011 Census of India, Rajkot district is home to nearly 33.8 lakh residents, with about 18.3 lakh being women, which accounts for just over 54 percent of the total population.
While this data provides a basis for understanding the scale of the female population in the city, it is likely that current numbers are higher due to growth over the past decade.
This annual gesture by the Rajkot Municipal Corporation seeks to simplify festive travel and honor the spirit of Bhai Beej.
The festival, observed on the second day of the Kartik month, symbolizes the profound love between brothers and sisters.
According to legend, on this day, Lord Yama visited his sister Yamuna, who applied a tilak on his forehead, praying for his long life and happiness—a ritual that has continued as a beloved tradition in Indian households.
The bus transport network in Gujarat, primarily managed by the Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC), boasts one of the largest fleets in the country, with around 8,300 buses completing 41,000 daily trips over 30 lakh kilometers, reaching over 99 percent of the state's villages and population, as per GSRTC data.
The state has a total of nearly 92,000 buses, encompassing both public and private operators, according to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.