Delhi introduced India’s first fare-free public transport (FFPT) scheme in 2019, allowing women to travel for free on government buses. The initiative aimed to enhance women’s mobility and safety. Between 2019 and 2023, women’s share of daily ridership increased by 20 percent, though challenges such as overcrowding and noncompliance with seat reservations persist. This paper examines the scheme’s impact on transport equity, access to opportunities, and travel safety based on data from 2,010 women surveyed in June 2023.
