The Lokmata Ahilyabai Matrushakti Yatra, also referred to as the Matrushakti Yojana, is yet another welfare-oriented initiative of the Yogi government in Uttar Pradesh aimed at providing greater mobility, convenience and social support to senior women citizens.Launched by chief minister Yogi Adityanath recently, the initiative reflects the government’s emphasis on women’s empowerment and ensuring a more dignified and accessible public transport system for elderly women.Under the scheme, women aged 60 years and above are eligible to travel free of cost on Uttar Pradesh Roadways buses. The initiative seeks to reduce the financial burden of travel on senior women, particularly those who need to travel for medical treatment, family responsibilities, religious visits, social engagements or other essential purposes.The scheme is expected to benefit a large number of elderly women across urban and rural Uttar Pradesh by making public transport more affordable and accessible. Free travel through the extensive network of Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation buses can also help senior women maintain greater independence and mobility.To implement the initiative, the Uttar Pradesh government has made a significant financial commitment, with an estimated expenditure of approximately Rs 22.50 crore per month towards funding free travel for eligible women passengers. The allocation underlines the scale of the programme and the government’s intention to provide the benefit on a sustained basis.Named after Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar, the initiative also carries a symbolic message of recognising the contribution, strength and dignity of women. By combining social welfare with accessible public transport, the Lokmata Ahilyabai Matrushakti Yatra seeks to create a more inclusive mobility framework for senior women across Uttar Pradesh.Key eligibility: Women aged 60 years and above are eligible for completely free travel on UP Roadways buses under the scheme.
