RS PURA, Aug 1: Senior BJP leader and former Sarpanch Adv. Devraj Sharma on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the Omar Abdullah-led Jammu & Kashmir Government, alleging that its much-publicised free bus travel scheme for women has failed to deliver its intended benefits on the ground due to poor implementation and lack of monitoring.
Addressing the issue, Adv. Sharma said that while the government deserves appreciation for announcing free travel for women in government-owned JKRTC and Smart City e-buses, the real purpose of the initiative is being defeated because many buses allegedly do not stop to pick up women passengers at designated bus stops.
He particularly criticised Transport Minister Satish Sharma, holding him responsible for what he described as a failure to ensure effective implementation of the flagship welfare measure. According to Adv. Sharma, the gap between policy announcements and their execution has left many women commuters frustrated and inconvenienced.”It is unfortunate that a scheme intended to empower women and make public transport more affordable is not being implemented in the true spirit. A welfare initiative has little meaning if eligible beneficiaries are unable to avail themselves of its benefits due to administrative lapses,” he said.
Adv. Sharma pointed out that the Jammu and Kashmir Government had launched the free travel initiative on April 1, 2025, allowing women and schoolgirls to travel free of cost on all government-owned JKRTC and Smart City e-buses across the Union Territory. The scheme was widely welcomed as a progressive step towards promoting women’s mobility, encouraging education, improving workplace accessibility and reducing household transportation expenses.
However, he alleged that numerous complaints have been received from women commuters stating that buses frequently fail to stop at designated locations, compelling them to wait for long durations or arrange alternative transport at their own expense.
“The government cannot simply make announcements and then ignore their implementation. If buses bypass waiting women passengers, the objective of the scheme stands defeated. Women should not be forced to chase buses or depend on private transport despite the existence of a free travel facility,” he remarked.
The senior BJP leader said that public transport is not merely a mode of travel but an essential public service that directly impacts students, working women, senior citizens and economically weaker families. He asserted that every eligible woman should be able to access the benefits of the scheme without inconvenience or discrimination.
Adv. Sharma urged the Transport Department to establish a robust monitoring mechanism to ensure that all JKRTC and Smart City buses stop at authorised bus stops and comply with operational guidelines. He also called for regular inspections, GPS-based monitoring of bus operations, surprise checks and strict action against drivers or conductors found violating service norms.He further demanded the establishment of an effective grievance redressal system where women commuters can report instances of buses failing to stop or any denial of benefits under the scheme. Such complaints, he said, should be investigated promptly and corrective action taken without delay.
Adv. Sharma maintained that women deserve dignity, safety and convenience while using public transport, adding that welfare schemes achieve success only when they translate into tangible benefits for ordinary citizens.He appealed to the Omar Abdullah Government to move beyond publicity and focus on ensuring effective delivery of public welfare programmes. “A government is judged not merely by the schemes it announces but by how sincerely those schemes are implemented. The free travel initiative should become a symbol of women’s empowerment and not a reminder of administrative negligence,” he said.
Calling upon the Transport Minister to personally review the functioning of JKRTC and Smart City buses, Adv. Sharma urged the government to restore public confidence by ensuring that every woman passenger can avail herself of the benefits promised under the scheme with dignity, safety and ease.