Only 9% of Indians take public transport to work, buses key for women

The first-ever household travel survey conducted by India's statistics ministry reveals that only 9% of Indians primarily use public transport, such as buses, to reach their workplaces. Two-wheelers are the second most common mode of transport, used by 43% of people, while cars are utilized by just 3%.

Interestingly, the survey indicates that more than a fifth of urban women opting for public transport to commute to work, three times higher than their male counterparts. This trend is particularly prominent in several states that have introduced free bus travel schemes for women, such as Kerala (46.8%), Tamil Nadu (41.1%), Karnataka (34.9%), and Telangana (28.9%).

The average monthly cost for commuting to work is approximately Rs 1,044 for urban residents, 71% higher than the Rs 612 spent by rural dwellers. Nationally, the average monthly expense is Rs 785. Buses are the leading mode of transport for 6.7% of individuals commuting more than a kilometer to their workplace, followed by monorail/tram (2.1%) and rail (0.2%).

The survey also highlights the effectiveness of free bus travel schemes for women, with 21.7% of urban women in these states primarily using buses to reach their workplaces, compared to just 6.9% of urban men. The 'bus' category encompasses public, private, company, and inter-city buses. States like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Telangana have seen significant increases in women's workforce participation due to these initiatives.