Vasai: The Vasai Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC) has announced a 50 per cent fare concession for women passengers on all VVCMC-operated buses starting June 1.

The initiative, applicable across Vasai, Virar and Nalasopara, was confirmed by VVMC commissioner Anil Kumar Pawar. “Some other civic transport bodies have already extended such benefits to women. In alignment with the state government's policy, VVCMC will offer half-price bus tickets to women from June 1. All necessary administrative guidelines have been issued,” Pawar said.

Currently, VVCMC operates 130 buses on 37 major routes, with 90 managed by contractors and 40 directly by the civic body. The bus service caters to around 75,000 to 80,000 commuters daily, many of whom are women relying on public transport for work, education, and daily needs.

Vasai MLA Sneha Dubey-Pandit played a key role in the initiative. “I had raised this issue with officials and ministers, and I am pleased that the civic body has responded positively. This decision will bring both financial relief and greater accessibility for women in our region,” she said.

The move has been welcomed by citizens and local organizations, who have called for effective implementation to ensure eligible women can access the benefit without hurdles.

The fare concession for women has also sparked similar demands in nearby Mira-Bhayandar, where over one lakh people use municipal buses daily. Activists and citizens there have urged the local authorities to adopt VVCMC’s model.

VVCMC also offers various concessions to senior citizens, persons with disabilities, cancer and dialysis patients, orphaned children, and economically weaker students from non-English medium schools.