Women Are Twice As Likely To Use Public Transport For Work Commute, Pg7

Key Highlights:

• The National Household Travel Survey (NHTS) revealed that women are twice as likely as men to use public transport or walk for their work commute in India.
• Approximately 67% of working women rely on walking or public transport, compared to 33% of men.
• In rural areas, over half of working women walk to their workplaces, while men predominantly use two-wheelers.
• Women in urban areas, despite using diverse modes including two-wheelers, autos, and cars, generally experience longer commute times than men.

Detailed Insights:

• The National Household Travel Survey (NHTS), conducted by the National Statistics Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) from July 2025 to June 2026, is India's first comprehensive survey on travel patterns.
• The survey highlights a significant gender divide in mobility, with women showing higher dependence on cost-effective modes like walking and public transport.
• Regional analysis indicates that in central and northeastern states like Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar, a higher proportion of women walk to work, suggesting limited public transport availability.
• Southern states such as Kerala show a reduced disparity in public transport usage between rural and urban women.
• The longer commute times for women in at least 13 major states underscore challenges in accessibility and efficiency of transport options for them.
• The cost of commuting also reflects this disparity, with women's expenditure on travel being lower in rural areas, though this gap is narrowing in urban settings.
• Government initiatives like the Nirbhaya Fund aim to enhance women's safety in public transport through infrastructure improvements and emergency systems.
• Several states, including Delhi (with its Pink Slip Program) and Tamil Nadu (with the Vettri Payanam or Shakti scheme), have introduced free bus travel for women to boost their mobility and economic participation.
• Limited mobility for women is a significant barrier to their economic participation and access to education and healthcare, often leading to "time poverty".

Key Concepts Involved:

• National Household Travel Survey (NHTS): India's first comprehensive survey on household travel patterns, modes, and purposes.
• Gender Mobility Gap: Disparities in travel patterns, mode choices, and access to transport between men and women.
• Nirbhaya Fund: A government fund established to implement initiatives aimed at enhancing the safety and security of women.
• Vettri Payanam: A scheme launched by the Tamil Nadu government providing free bus travel for women and transgender persons.