UP to provide free ride to women senior citizens in govt buses

Lucknow, Sept 11:  Uttar Pradesh government has decided to provide free bus ride to women senior citizen in the state very soon, an official said here today. A decision to this was taken at the Board meeting of the UP State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) here last week and the proposal has been sent to the state government. According to officials, there are over 74 lakh women of over 60 years of age in the state as per the 2011 census and the state government will have to compensate the subsidy for this movement. But in initial stages the facilities would be provided only in the normal buses and not in AC buses. Presently, the UPSRTC provides free travel to freedom fighters, Awarded teachers, Loktrantrik Senani, Devyangs and the accredited journalists. However, the state government compensate for the usage of these group passengers. As per the statistics, the UPSRTC carry 8 lakh devyangs, 6000 Loktrantrik Senani,2500 journalists, 900 awarded teachers and 500 freedom fighters on average daily in their buses. UNI