More than 88.94 lakh passengers availed free bus travel over three days on Raksha Bandhan
55.17 lakh women travelled free of cost, while more than 33.76 lakh co-passengers also received the facility
2025 record broken, 10.68 lakh more passengers availed free bus travel this year
Yogi government bore an expenditure of Rs 106.98 crore, 49.96 lakh passengers travelled free of cost on August 28
Free travel facility on Raksha Bandhan has been continuing since 2017, with the number of passengers availing the facility increasing every year
The three-day free bus travel facility provided by Yogi government to women and their co-passengers on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan received widespread response across the state this year. Yogi government surpassed its own record of last year and enabled more passengers to avail free travel. According to the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC), a total of 88,94,730 passengers travelled free of cost from August 27 to 29, 2026. These included 55.17 lakh women and 33.76 lakh co-passengers. State government spent Rs 106.98 crore on this free travel facility.
Additional Chief Secretary, Transport Department, Archana Agrawal stated, “On Raksha Bandhan, CM Yogi Ji had announced free bus travel for women and their co-passengers. In successfully implementing this facility, officers and employees of Transport Corporation, along with drivers and conductors, contributed with complete commitment. At the same time, the arrangements were operated effectively with the guidance and cooperation of the departmental minister.”
This year, the number of passengers availing free travel also surpassed last year’s record. In 2025, 78.26 lakh passengers had travelled free of cost over three days on Raksha Bandhan. This time, the number increased to 88.94 lakh. That is, around 10.68 lakh more passengers availed free travel compared to last year.
The economic value of relief provided to passengers through free bus travel over three days was also higher than last year. In 2025, the government spent more than Rs 86.98 crore on free travel. This year, it increased to Rs 106.98 crore. That is, the government shouldered a burden of around Rs 20 crore more compared to last year.
According to the data, the highest number of passengers travelled free of cost on Raksha Bandhan day, August 28. On this day, 49.96 lakh passengers travelled by bus. These included 32.47 lakh women and 17.48 lakh co-passengers. On August 27, 9.26 lakh passengers, on August 28, 49.96 lakh passengers and on August 29, 29.71 lakh passengers availed free bus travel. The number of women among them was 6.03 lakh, 32.47 lakh and 16.66 lakh, respectively.
Before Raksha Bandhan, Transport Corporation had prepared to ensure the operation of as many buses as possible and strengthen arrangements at major bus stations. From August 27 to 29, free travel facility was provided from 6 am to 12 midnight. Due to better preparations, no passenger faced any inconvenience during the journey.
Yogi government has been providing the gift of free travel since 2017
Since the first year after the formation of government, CM Yogi has worked for the safety and upliftment of women. Along with this, free bus travel for women on Raksha Bandhan was also started from the very first year and it continues to date. In 2017, 11.16 lakh women passengers availed this facility. In 2018, the number was 11.69 lakh, in 2019 it was 12.04 lakh and in 2020 it was 7.36 lakh. In 2021, 9.63 lakh, in 2022, 22.32 lakh, in 2023, 29.29 lakh and in 2024, 19.78 lakh women passengers travelled free of cost. In 2025, after co-passengers were included along with women, the total number of free tickets was 78.26 lakh.
