redBus has released insights from its first-of-a-kind redBus Pink Report during International Women’s Week. Based on internal data between 2019 and 2025, the report highlights a steady rise in how women are reshaping India’s intercity mobility landscape.
According to the study, women’s bus travel has surged by 136% since 2019, nearly double the pace of overall passenger growth at 72%. Women now make up one in three intercity bus travellers (33%), up from 23% in 2019, with much of the momentum driven by Gen Z travellers, rising solo journeys, and growing adoption across Tier-2 and Tier-3 towns. Together, these trends highlight a broader shift towards greater independence, participation, and mobility for women across India.
The redBus Pink Report is a data-driven analysis of women’s intercity and interstate bus travel across India, categorising states based on women’s travel patterns. Built using redBus’ internal data between 2019 and 2025 across both private and RTC (government) buses available on the redBus platform, the study tracks how women’s bus travel has evolved and highlights regions where adoption is accelerating. The study aims to highlight women’s travel trends across regions and contribute to broader mobility discussions.
Key Highlights:
● 136% increase in women travelling in 2025, compared to 2019, outpacing overall passenger growth, which stands at 72%
● Women’s share of bus travellers increased from 23% in 2019 to 33% in 2025
● South India continues to lead women’s bus travel participation, rising from 24% in 2019 to 34% in 2025, while other regions have also seen steady growth – West from 23% to 31%, East from 21% to 30%, and North from 20% to 28%.
● The top 5 states are Assam, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab,Telangana
● Gen Z women (14–29 years) make up 60% of all women passengers and account for 68% of solo women trips.
● 68% of women bus travellers originate from Tier-2 and Tier-3 towns
Prakash Sangam, CEO, redBus, commented on the launch: “Women’s travel in India today reflects more than just rising journeys; it signals a growing sense of independence. More women across India are choosing to travel on their own terms, for work, education, opportunity or leisure. At redBus, we are continuously strengthening features that build trust, from better visibility of bus ratings by women, to enhanced safety information and dedicated support systems. Our goal is to continue to make intercity travel more reliable, more accessible and more empowering for every woman – whether she is travelling alone or leading a group. We believe mobility is freedom, and freedom should be seamless.”
