Kolkata, May 23 -- The West Bengal government has announced free travel for women in all state-run buses across the state, which would be effective June 1 in a major move aimed at enhancing women's empowerment and improving access to public transport.

According to a notification issued by the Transport Department on May 21, the Government of West Bengal wrote, "In order to enhance women's empowerment and to improve their access to transport facilities, the Government of West Bengal has decided to implement a scheme for free transportation for women of the state in all state-run buses in West Bengal."

The notification further stated that "free transportation shall be provided in all state-run buses to all women of West Bengal," covering ...