Solo Women Travellers Power 135 Per Cent Surge: IntrCity SmartBus

This Independence Day, freedom has taken a fresh route on India’s highways. IntrCity SmartBus, the country’s tech-enabled intercity bus network, has revealed a remarkable 135 per cent rise in solo women travellers since 2023. Passenger numbers have grown from 90,700 in FY23 to more than 2.13 lakh in FY25, signalling a shift towards greater independence, trust, and comfort among women commuters.

Reflecting on the insights, Aparajita Mukhopadhyay, COO, IntrCity SmartBus, added, “This Independence Day, we’re witnessing freedom take a new form - through the evolving landscape of India’s intercity mobility. The 135 per cent surge in solo women travellers reflects a growing trust in organised, safe, and reliable travel options. Women are increasingly choosing services that prioritise safety, cleanliness, and professionalism. At IntrCity SmartBus, we’ve built our ecosystem around discipline and dignity through zero tolerance for unruly behaviour, elimination of unplanned halts, tech-enabled safety, verified lounges, and clean onboard washrooms. We’re proud to see more women choosing to travel solo, not out of compulsion, but because they feel in control and trust the experience.”

Over 90 per cent of solo women passengers now plan and manage their journeys independently using the IntrCity app. The platform allows end-to-end control, from seat selection and route changes to booking management, without external assistance.

Safety remains the biggest draw. IntrCity has integrated GPS-enabled buses with real-time tracking, CCTV surveillance, and 24x7 monitoring from a Central Command Centre. Onboard hosts, similar to train ticket inspectors or flight attendants, ensure rules are followed and offer assistance throughout the journey.

To further improve comfort, over 30 cities now feature verified boarding lounges, giving women secure and well-maintained spaces before departure. Long-haul buses come with onboard washrooms, frequently checked to maintain hygiene, a facility that addresses a common concern for female passengers.

The result is growing loyalty. The Net Promoter Score among solo women travellers has risen by 20 per cent year-on-year, underscoring satisfaction with professionalism, cleanliness, and punctuality.

Maharashtra leads in demand, accounting for 15.15 per cent of all solo female travellers, with popular routes including Chennai–Bangalore, Delhi–Lucknow, and Hyderabad–Bangalore. Growth is visible across both metro and tier-2 cities, indicating broad-based adoption of structured bus travel.