Arvind Sharma
Jammu Tawi, Jan 27: Around 60% to 70% women/girls have been availing the benefit of free ride in the two hundred (200) e-buses operating in both Jammu and Srinagar on a daily basis as per the data available with the Northlines.
Highly placed sources said that this data has been collected by the authorities of Jammu Smart City Limited (JSCL) on the basis of Adhar cards, ticket collection and the general figures provided by the e-bus operators regarding females travelling in the e-buses on a daily basis.
The figures provided by a senior official of the Jammu Smart City Limited (JSCL), reveal that on an average, 60-70% women/girls travel in all the 200 e-buses on a daily basis operating in Jammu and Kashmir.
“We have been bearing a loss of around Rs 2.5 to crores 3 crores each month due to free bus ride for women but the government has been compensating us since the start of this service for women to bear these losses,” a very senior officer of Jammu Smart City Limited (JSCL), informed the Nortlines, while wishing not to be named.
It may be mentioned that the National Conference (NC) had announced free bus ride for women in its manifesto during the Assembly elections last year.
The J&K government, as per its promise, has now been bearing the losses between 2.5 to 3 cr to ensure free bus ride for women/girls.
The women/girls of Jammu and Srinagar have been availing the free bus ride without any hindrance. The e-bus operators have been directed not to ignore women/girls on any stop and make sure that they are not deprived of free bus service, they said.
