Tue Apr 01 21:30:00 UTC 2025: ## Jammu & Kashmir Launches Free E-Bus Service for Women
**Srinagar, April 2, 2025** – Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah launched a free e-bus service for women on Tuesday, a landmark initiative aimed at promoting gender-inclusive mobility and women’s empowerment. The service, the first of its kind in the Union Territory, covers smart city e-buses and J&K Road Transport Corporation (JKRTC) buses across the region.
The program provides free travel for women on approximately 330 buses (200 e-buses and 130 JKRTC buses in Kashmir and 105 in Jammu). This initiative addresses both affordability and safety concerns, aiming to create an environment where women feel empowered to travel freely. Chief Minister Abdullah stated the goal is to make Jammu & Kashmir a model for inclusive growth.
The announcement was met with positive feedback from women across the region. Asiya Jan, a local entrepreneur, expressed optimism that the free service will encourage increased female participation in the workforce. The 2011 census data indicates that women comprise 47% of Srinagar’s population (12,19,516) and 47% of Jammu’s (15.29 lakh).
This initiative is viewed not merely as a welfare program, but as a significant step towards gender equality and inclusive development in Jammu and Kashmir.
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