Free bus schemes help, but rural India pays more to travel

Paper: GS – II, Subject: Governance, Topic: Government Policies, Issue: Intricacies of recent free bus schemes.

Context:

The findings from the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) 2023-24 shows that despite free bus schemes, rural India still spends more (20.6%) of total conveyance expenditure on buses than urban India (16.2%). It highlights the gap in transportation access and infrastructure between rural and urban areas.

Key Highlights:

• Bus Travel as a Primary Mode in Rural India:
• In rural areas, lack of alternative transport options forces higher dependence on buses.
• Rural India spends 20.6% of total conveyance expenditure on bus travel compared to 16.2% in urban India.
• State-Level Variations in bus expenditure:
• High rural bus expenditure: Tamil Nadu and Kerala – up to 25%.
• Lower share: Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Haryana.
• States having free Bus Schemes: States like Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, and Punjab provide free bus travel for women.

Non-Agricultural Workforce & Bus Spending:

• Top 3 states by non-agricultural participation:  Delhi (52.1%), Kerala (49.2%), Tamil Nadu (43.3 %).
• Bottom 3: Chhattisgarh (36.1%), MP (38.4%), UP (44%)

It shows that bus usage doesn’t correlate directly with non-agricultural workforce.

Challenges Highlighted:

• Urban vs Rural Disparity: Urban areas have multiple transport options. Rural people depend almost entirely on buses, raising their spending share.
• Bus Availability is Uneven: India has only 1.1 lakh buses, mostly in urban areas. 60 buses per 1 lakh population in Delhi vs only 7–9 in states like Odisha, Jharkhand.
• Supply and Affordability Issues: Women in rural areas face barriers despite free schemes because of low bus density, Unreliable timings and Fewer routes.

Measures needed:

• Transition to Electric Buses: Reducing operating costs can lead to lower fares or free services, making schemes more sustainable.
• Boost Rural Connectivity: Focus on increasing bus fleet and better route coverage in rural areas.
• Better Targeting of Free Schemes: Schemes must account for actual availability and access.Schemes are not enough to make bus rides free if buses themselves are few.
• Reassess Public Transport Expenditure: Need to reallocate spending to improve accessibility and reduce rural burden.

Conclusion:

Welfare schemes alone are not enough—they must be backed by infrastructure.Overdependence on buses in rural India suggests lack of mobility options.Public transport reforms can play a role in bridging urban-rural disparities and enhancing women’s mobility and economic participation.

https://www.pressreader.com/india/the-hindu-delhi-9WW5/20250730/281771340245584?srsltid=AfmBOoqQyfPcOaAC7Cr_bFkR-0RzC-6pRnYu1hDV3x7CD7QkJxPKGyDw

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