# J&K govt announces free public transport for differently-abled 2026-09-16T22:06:48+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet The Jammu and Kashmir government has sanctioned free ridership for differently-abled persons on public transport across the Union territory, fulfilling a key budget announcement made in March this year. The facility covers J&K Road Transport Corporation services and e-buses operated by Jammu Smart City Limited and Srinagar Smart City Limited. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah congratulated Transport Minister Satish Sharma on the initiative, describing it as a reflection of the government's commitment to social justice and an important step towards inclusive mobility. The government had earlier provided free public transport for women in J&K after coming to power. ## Indian Opinion Analysis The scheme extends the same model used for women's free bus travel, which was introduced shortly after the Omar Abdullah government took office. J&K's public transport network, run largely by the state road corporation, serves both urban and rural areas, but accessibility for persons with disabilities has long been patchy. The financial burden on the exchequer will depend on how many of the estimated 3 lakh registered differently-abled persons in J&K actually use the service. The next check point will be the rollout of smart-card based identification to prevent misuse and track actual ridership, details of which the transport department is expected to announce in the coming weeks. ## Coverage - greaterkashmir.com Tags: Jammu and Kashmir, Jammu and Kashmir Road Transport Corporation, Omar Abdullah Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/jk-govt-announces-free-public-transport-for-differently-abled/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/jk-govt-announces-free-public-transport-for-differently-abled/#story-in-brief