The Delhi government on Wednesday rolled out 56 dedicated women-only electric bus services across 28 routes in the national capital, seeking to provide safer and more convenient public transport for women travelling to workplaces and educational institutions.
The initiative comprises 30 “Ladies Special” trips operating on 15 high-demand routes and 26 “University Ladies Special” (U-SPL) trips across 13 routes serving major educational hubs. The corridors were selected on the basis of areas witnessing significant movement of women commuters.
The services were launched as part of a broader expansion of Delhi's electric public transport network, with Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu flagging off 200 new electric buses on Wednesday.
The addition has taken the Delhi Transport Corporation's overall fleet to nearly 6,800 buses, while the number of electric buses operating in the city has risen to nearly 5,000.
30 services for high-demand routes
Of the 56 dedicated services, 30 Ladies Special trips will operate across 15 busy city corridors identified as having high demand among women passengers. The remaining 26 services have been designed primarily for students and will operate across 13 routes connecting residential areas with Delhi University's North and South campuses as well as other educational institutions.
The government had announced the plan in July, with Transport Minister Pankaj Singh saying the routes had been selected after assessing travel patterns and corridors frequently used by women. The services are intended particularly for peak commuting periods, when women travelling to offices, colleges and universities face high passenger volumes on public transport.
Focus on women's safety
Safety features form a key part of the new service. The dedicated buses will have women conductors, while marshals or security personnel will also be deployed. The buses are equipped with panic buttons linked to the command-and-control system for emergencies. The dedicated network is aimed at creating a more secure environment while improving the reliability of public transport for women.
Delhi already provides free bus travel to women through its fare-support system. Paper-based pink tickets, currently used by women travelling on DTC and cluster buses, have been extended until August 31. The women-only services add another layer to that policy by reserving specific bus trips for female passengers rather than only providing fare concessions on regular services.
200 new e-buses join fleet
The launch coincided with the induction of 200 additional zero-emission electric buses into Delhi's public transport network. The latest addition is part of the capital's ongoing transition away from conventional buses towards an increasingly electric fleet. With the new vehicles, electric buses now account for a substantial majority of the DTC fleet. The expansion is expected to increase availability on busy routes while helping reduce emissions from the city's public transport system. The government has been steadily adding electric buses as part of efforts to modernise the fleet and address Delhi's persistent air pollution problem.
Delhi-Karnal service launched
Alongside the city services, the government also launched an electric interstate bus connection between Delhi and Karnal in Haryana. The service expands Delhi's electric bus operations beyond the national capital and is aimed at providing a cleaner public transport option for passengers travelling between the two cities.
The government plans to strengthen electric connectivity with other destinations in neighbouring states as part of its broader push towards cleaner transport. Wednesday's rollout brings together two priorities of the capital's transport policy — expanding the electric bus fleet and improving public transport access for women. For women commuters, the 56 dedicated services are expected to provide additional options on some of the city's busiest workplace and university corridors, while the induction of 200 buses increases the overall capacity of Delhi's public transport network.