# Uttarakhand Free Travel Relief Leaves Okhalkanda Women Stranded Due to Absence of State Buses

> While the Uttarakhand government announced free roadways bus travel for women on August 28 and 29 for Raksha Bandhan, the scheme remains ineffective in Nainital's remote Okhalkanda block where state buses do not operate.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Uttarakhand · **Published:** 2026-08-26 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/uttarakhand/uttarakhand-men-rakshabndhana-para-mahilaon-ko-muphta-saphara-ka-ailana-lekina-okhalkanda-men-basen-na-chalane-se-yojana-beasara-22516 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Uttarakhand News, Okhalkanda, Nainital, Raksha Bandhan, Roadways Bus Service, Public Transport, Uttarakhand Transport Corporation, Haldwani

On the auspicious occasion of Raksha Bandhan, the Uttarakhand state government announced a free transport scheme for women across the state. Under this decision, women can travel without any bus fare on state roadways buses operated by the Uttarakhand Transport Corporation on August 28 and August 29. The primary objective behind this initiative was to ensure that women could reach their maternal homes and tie Rakhis on their brothers' wrists without bearing any financial burden. While this policy decision received widespread praise across urban and plain regions of the state, it has proved ineffective in the remote mountain block of Okhalkanda in Nainital district due to a complete lack of basic public transport infrastructure.

## Ground Reality and Transport Infrastructure Deficit in Okhalkanda
Residents of the mountainous Okhalkanda block pointed out that government announcements hold little practical value when state transport buses do not ply in their area at all. Women across nearly 75 gram panchayats in this block face a fundamental predicament regarding how to avail themselves of the free travel scheme. Regular public bus services in this region have been non-functional for decades. Local inhabitants emphasized that when no state roadways buses reach their villages, a two-day free travel offer remains confined strictly to official paperwork.

## Steep Mountain Treks and Exorbitant Private Taxi Fares
The geographical terrain of rural Okhalkanda is exceptionally rugged and challenging. Reaching the main connecting road from distant hilltop villages is a daunting task in itself. Women must walk 5 to 6 kilometers uphill and downhill along steep mountain trails just to reach the tarmac road. After traversing these arduous paths for hours, they reach the main road only to find that no state-run buses are available to take them to their destinations.

To travel to their brothers' homes or visit relatives during the festival, women are left with no choice but to rely on private transport operators running Max vehicles, Jeeps, and local taxis. During major festivals, private vehicle operators frequently charge inflated fares from commuters. Consequently, far from benefiting from the government's free bus travel scheme, rural women are forced to spend substantial sums out of their own pockets, straining their household budgets during festive occasions.

## Local Testimonies Highlighting Daily Commute Struggles
Sharing her personal experience regarding the region's dismal transport situation, local resident Deepa Devi explained that villagers must trek several kilometers on foot just to reach the motorable road. However, the complete absence of roadways buses upon reaching the highway compounds their difficulties, forcing them to purchase expensive tickets on private vehicles. She stated, **“हमें तो याद भी नहीं कि आखिरी बार यहां रोडवेज बस कब देखी थी; 10-15 साल हो गए होंगे.”** She added that amid rising living costs, affording such high private fares places a heavy strain on low-income families.

Another local resident, Khashti Devi, pointed out that whether travelling for Raksha Bandhan, shopping for essentials, or visiting Haldwani city for medical care, the absence of public buses severely affects the entire population. She noted, **“हमारे इलाके में बस की कोई सुविधा नहीं है.”** Women are routinely forced to travel in overcrowded private taxis or pay steep prices to book entire vehicles. Paying full private fares during festive periods means government welfare schemes fail to provide any tangible relief to rural families.

## Disparity Between Plain Cities and Mountainous Districts
Although the Uttarakhand government's welfare decision is commendable in intent, it has highlighted the stark divide in infrastructure development between plain regions and remote hilly areas. In plain cities like Dehradun, Haridwar, and Haldwani, women enjoy free and comfortable travel aboard air-conditioned and regular state roadways buses. In contrast, women living in hard-to-reach mountain pockets like Okhalkanda are forced to endure uncomfortable journeys in private vehicles while paying high fares even on festival days. This disparity raises pressing questions about whether citizens residing in rugged mountain zones receive equitable access to essential public transport infrastructure.

## Administrative Neglect and Public Grievances Against Representatives
Local social worker Bhupal Bargali raised serious concerns regarding administrative indifference and the region's prolonged neglect. According to him, Okhalkanda block is located approximately 100 kilometers from Haldwani city and encompasses around 70 to 75 villages. State roadways bus services in this entire belt were suspended years ago, leaving the local population entirely dependent on private taxi operators. Commenting on the accountability of elected leaders, he remarked, **“चुनाव जीतने के बाद हमारे जनप्रतिनिधि खुद गांवों में नहीं रहते, वे शहरों में जाकर बस गए हैं.”**

Because local political leaders move to urban centers after elections, the fundamental public grievances of hill residents often go unaddressed. While welcoming the government's decision to provide a two-day free bus service on August 28 and 29 for Raksha Bandhan, Bhupal Bargali urged the administration to permanently connect all 75 villages of Okhalkanda to the state roadways network so that public welfare schemes deliver actual benefits to the grassroots level.

## Demand for Permanent Public Bus Connectivity
Raksha Bandhan represents a deeply cherished cultural bond of trust and affection between brothers and sisters. Despite facing severe geographical hurdles, difficult mountain tracks, and lack of basic amenities, women in hill areas make every effort to visit their families during the festival. The government's decision to offer free bus travel reflects positive policy intent, but its real purpose can only be achieved when public transport extends to the most remote villages. The women of Okhalkanda have a single, direct demand for the state government: restore regular roadways bus services to their region so that welfare initiatives transition from paper declarations into meaningful improvements in their everyday travel.

## What this means for you
**Across India:** Festival travel concessions often remain limited to major urban routes, leaving rural and remote commuters without access to government transport welfare schemes due to persistent connectivity gaps.

**In Uttarakhand:** Women across 75 gram panchayats in Nainital's Okhalkanda block will miss out on free bus travel during Raksha Bandhan (August 28-29) as no state transport buses run in the area, forcing them to rely on costly private taxis.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. What travel announcement did the Uttarakhand government make for Raksha Bandhan?
The Uttarakhand government announced free bus travel for women on August 28 and 29 across all state roadways buses operated by the Uttarakhand Transport Corporation.

### 2. Why are women in Nainital's Okhalkanda block unable to benefit from the free bus scheme?
State roadways bus services have been non-functional for years in Okhalkanda, leaving women in its 75 villages without access to government buses.

### 3. How far do women in Okhalkanda have to walk to reach the motorable road?
Women in rural Okhalkanda must walk approximately 5 to 6 kilometers along steep mountain trails to reach the main road.

### 4. How far is Okhalkanda block located from Haldwani city?
Okhalkanda block is located approximately 100 kilometers away from Haldwani city.

### 5. What is the primary demand of the local residents of Okhalkanda?
Local residents demand that all 75 gram panchayats of Okhalkanda be permanently integrated into the state's regular roadways bus network.

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