In a significant move to promote gender equality and ease commuting expenses, Goa Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant on June 28, 2025, announced a 50% concession on bus fares for women employed in the private sector. The initiative aims to enhance affordability for daily commuters while encouraging greater workforce participation among women across the state.
This landmark decision is part of Goa’s broader push toward gender-responsive budgeting, with increasing allocations in the state budget directed at programs that promote women’s empowerment and social inclusion.
The fare concession will be applicable to all buses operating within Goa, including services provided by private transporters under the government’s expanded Mhaji Bus Scheme. To ensure seamless rollout, the state government is collaborating with private bus operators, offering subsidies and operational incentives to strengthen service delivery, particularly in rural and underserved regions.
By lowering commuting costs, the government hopes to remove a major barrier to employment for women, thereby supporting their access to more job opportunities and bolstering their role in Goa’s economic development.
The announcement has been met with widespread approval and is seen as a progressive step toward building a more inclusive, equitable, and supportive environment for women working outside the public sector.