Planning To Travel For Raksha Bandhan In 2025? Here's Where Women Can Get Free Bus Rides Across India

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This Raksha Bandhan, many Indian states are offering women free bus rides to make it easier for them to visit their brothers and families. These travel initiatives, while differing in duration and benefits, carry one clear message: women shouldn't have to think twice about going home for Rakhi.

Uttar Pradesh Offers 3-Day Free Bus Travel

In Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has greenlit a special travel window from August 8 to 10, during which all women can travel free on UPSRTC buses and city transport, covering both rural and urban routes.

The transport department has also directed additional bus deployment to handle increased passenger flow during the Raksha Bandhan weekend, particularly on popular intercity routes like Lucknow-Kanpur, Agra-Mathura, and Varanasi-Allahabad.

Haryana Extends The Offer To Children Too

From noon on August 8 till midnight on August 9, women and children under 15 can travel free in all Haryana Roadways buses, including those going to Delhi and Chandigarh. Transport Minister Anil Vij confirmed the move as part of efforts to support families celebrating the festival together.

Rajasthan Extends To Two Days For The First Time

Breaking away from its previous one-day model, Rajasthan will provide two full days of free travel on August 9 and 10. CM Bhajan Lal Sharma said this initiative is open to all state-run buses operating within Rajasthan. Extra buses will also be added to high-demand routes like Jaipur-Kota and Udaipur-Ajmer.

#UPCM Shri @myogiadityanath ji has announced free bus rides for women during Rakshabandhan from August 19-20 on UPSRTC buses.

To manage increased demand, the fleet will be expanded from August 17-22, with additional buses and overtime incentives for staff.#NayeBharatKaNayaUP pic.twitter.com/ETniQ27Nzn

— Information and Public Relations Department, UP (@InfoDeptUP) August 14, 2024

Madhya Pradesh Combines City Rides With Festive Bonuses

In Bhopal and Indore, women can ride city buses free on August 9. In addition, over 28 lakh Ladli Behna Yojana beneficiaries will receive a Raksha Bandhan cash bonus of ₹1,500, plus a ₹250 festive gift. The state has allocated ₹43.9 crore, which also includes LPG subsidies under the Ujjwala scheme.

Uttarakhand And Tricity Continue Annual Free Travel

Uttarakhand will maintain its annual tradition of free Raksha Bandhan travel for women and children via UTC buses. Meanwhile, in the Tricity region (Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula), free rides for women will be available on Rakhi day, focusing on city bus services.

Delhi, Punjab, And Karnataka: Year-Round Free Bus Travel

In some states, women already travel free all year round, including:

Delhi - Female residents can travel for free in DTC and cluster buses using a pink ticket system.

Punjab - Offers free travel in state-run buses, covering both rural and intercity routes.

Karnataka - Since June 2023, the 'Shakti' scheme allows women with domicile certificates to use non-premium KSRTC buses free of charge.

While these aren't exclusive Raksha Bandhan initiatives, they add to the list of states enabling women to travel independently, safely, and without cost.

What These Schemes Say About Mobility And Festivals

While Raksha Bandhan is traditionally celebrated as a festival of protection and care, these state-backed schemes shift that sentiment into tangible support. By helping women reach their families without financial or logistical stress, states are ensuring that celebration doesn't come at the cost of access.

Even more significantly, it's a step toward recognising mobility as a gendered issue-especially during festivals, when cultural expectations often fall disproportionately on women to "come home" or manage travel logistics.