India, July 28 -- Shobha, the mother of a daughter who needs fortnightly hospital visits for a chronic kidney ailment, is talking about how her life changed after the Karnataka government introduced free bus rides for women in June 2023.

"For me, using an auto was out of the question. Even the bus fare was expensive," the Bengaluru-based home-maker said. "Now if I can save Rs.50, I can buy some fruit for my daughter."

Since she stopped having to buy tickets on the bus, Shobha said, she has saved Rs.40,000 in the post office-money she is keeping aside for her daughter's education.

Shobha is speaking at a conference to launch a report on the impact of free bus fares across India. The study by Sustainable Mobility Network, a coalition of ...