Women in hills hail free bus ride scheme

Darjeeling: The state govt’s decision to provide free rides for women on all state-operated buses from June 1 has been widely welcomed across Darjeeling. Women have hailed the scheme, stating that it will substantially cut travel expenses on the crucial Darjeeling-Siliguri route, which many depend on for education, employment, healthcare and regular needs.Approved by the state cabinet led by chief minister Suvendu Adhikari, the initiative is expected to provide major financial relief to those, who frequently shuttle between the hills and the plains.For several women in the hills, travelling to Siliguri is a compulsion rather than a choice. Students regularly commute for competitive examinations, coaching classes, availing study materials or college work, while working women and homemakers travel for employment, medical treatment, shopping and other essential services. With limited public transport options and rising vehicle fares, transportation costs often place a significant financial stress on households.Students pointed out that fares between Darjeeling and Siliguri can increase sharply during peak tourist months because of vehicle crunch, with commuters often forced to pay much higher rates. The normal fare between Darjeeling and Siliguri is Rs 250. However, the fare may touch Rs 500-mark during vehicle crises. The availability of free travel on state-run buses is therefore expected to offer substantial savings while ensuring safer and more reliable transportation.Shreyashree Shankar, a Class XI student, said the scheme would be particularly beneficial for students from the hills who often travel to Siliguri.“Most competitive examinations, coaching centres and educational facilities are located in Siliguri,” she said.“The money that we currently spend on travel can instead be utilized for purchase of study materials It will also provide financial relief to several families,” Shankar added.Residents believe that the initiative would improve mobility for women while easing household expenditure.Prerna Rai welcomed the move, saying that residents of the hills depend heavily on Siliguri for various services and necessities.“We depend on Siliguri for many things, and such an initiative by the govt will reduce our expenses. Many items and services are not readily available in the hills, so we frequently need to travel. Our children are pursuing higher studies there and we often travel to meet them,” she said.