Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has rolled out free travel for senior citizens on city buses and BRTS services from April, receiving an overwhelming response.
Within just eight days of the launch, over 3,300 senior citizens have obtained travel passes. The civic body is currently receiving around 500 to 550 applications daily, reflecting growing interest in the scheme.
Under the initiative, seniors can travel free on all city buses and BRTS services without buying tickets. Since April 1, many elderly citizens have been visiting designated centres to get their passes issued, each valid for one year.
Officials said the scheme has seen strong participation from both men and women. SMC noted that its bus and BRTS network serves around 2.25 lakh passengers daily, with senior citizens forming a significant share.
The demand for free travel had been a long-standing request, and the move has been widely welcomed. Authorities expect the number of beneficiaries to increase further in the coming days and have made arrangements to handle the rising demand.