The Jammu and Kashmir Government has sanctioned free travel for differently-abled persons on public transport, fulfilling a key Budget announcement made in March. The decision was announced on Wednesday and is intended to improve access to essential transport services across the Union Territory.

The facility will cover services operated by the Jammu and Kashmir Road Transport Corporation (JKRTC). It will also apply to e-buses operated by Jammu Smart City and Srinagar Smart City, extending the concession across public transport networks in the Jammu and Srinagar areas.

The Office of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah announced the decision in a post on X. The announcement said the Government had approved free ridership for differently-abled persons as part of its commitment to implement the transport-related measure included in the Budget earlier this year.

The Chief Minister’s Office also congratulated Transport Minister Satish Sharma on the initiative. It said the measure reflected the administration’s commitment to social justice and was aimed at improving accessibility, easing travel and supporting inclusive mobility for differently-abled residents.

The decision brings together bus services operated by JKRTC and the two smart city agencies under the free-travel facility. Details about the process for accessing the concession, including any identification or eligibility requirements, were not provided in the announcement.

The Government’s move is expected to make public transport more accessible to differently-abled persons travelling within Jammu and Kashmir. By including both conventional JKRTC services and e-buses, the policy covers multiple publicly operated transport options in the Union Territory.