UPSRTC offers free or discounted travel to specific categories of passengers, including Members of Parliament and former legislators, freedom fighters, gallantry award-winning soldiers and police personnel, persons with disabilities, recognised journalists, award-winning teachers, and children, under rules published on the official UPSRTC concession page. Unlike some other state road transport corporations, UPSRTC does not currently offer a blanket senior-citizen fare concession; instead, its concession framework is built around distinguished-citizen categories, disability-linked free travel, and a children’s fare scale. This guide sets out exactly who qualifies, what proof is required, and how each concession works.
Quick Facts
| Concession Categories | Distinguished citizens, gallantry award holders, disabled persons, children, students |
| Senior Citizen Concession | Not currently listed as a separate category on the official concession page |
| Children’s Travel | Free for children under 5 years; 50% fare for children aged 5–12 years |
| Disabled Persons | Free or concessional travel with valid disability certificate/UDID, as per category |
| Students | Covered under a separate monthly pass scheme, not the general concession list |
| Where to Verify | Official UPSRTC concession page (upsrtc.up.gov.in) and depot ticket counters |
Who Qualifies for Free or Concessional Travel
According to the official concession rules published by UPSRTC, free or subsidised travel is available to a defined list of distinguished-citizen categories. These include sitting and former Members of Parliament, former members of the UP Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly, recognised freedom fighters, individuals honoured for contributions to protecting democracy, persons with disabilities, journalists accredited under recognised categories, and teachers who have received national or state-level awards.
| MPs and ex-MLA/MLC members | Free or concessional travel on production of valid identification |
| Freedom fighters | Free travel under the freedom fighter concession category |
| Democracy defenders | Recognised individuals honoured for safeguarding democracy during the Emergency period |
| Gallantry award holders | Soldiers and police personnel awarded gallantry honours receive free travel |
| Accredited journalists | Journalists holding recognised accreditation, per category rules |
| Award-winning teachers | Teachers who received national or state teaching awards |
Each category has its own documentary requirement, typically a government-issued identity card, award certificate, or accreditation card, which must be produced at the time of travel or ticket booking.
Concession for Persons with Disabilities
UPSRTC provides free or concessional travel to persons with disabilities, with the exact benefit depending on the nature and category of disability as defined in the official rules. Passengers travelling under this category are generally required to carry a valid disability certificate or Unique Disability ID (UDID) card issued by the competent authority, along with photo identification, when boarding or booking.
UPSRTC also runs a dedicated Divyang (persons with disabilities) concession scheme with its own application process; readers who want the detailed eligibility and application steps for that specific scheme can refer to UPSRTC’s separate Divyang concession guide.
Children’s Fare Concession
Children’s travel on UPSRTC buses follows a straightforward age-based scale:
| Under 5 years | Free travel, no ticket fare charged |
| 5 to 12 years | 50% of the normal adult fare |
| Above 12 years | Full adult fare applies |
Parents travelling with young children should still inform the conductor or booking counter of the child’s age, since proof of age may be requested for the free or half-fare category on some routes.
Gallantry Award Holders
Soldiers and police personnel who have been awarded recognised gallantry honours are entitled to free travel on UPSRTC services. This is treated as a distinct category from the general distinguished-citizens list and is intended to honour service personnel recognised for exceptional acts of bravery.
Student Concession: A Separate Scheme
Students are not covered under the general concession categories above. Instead, UPSRTC runs a dedicated student monthly pass scheme, under which a monthly pass valid for 60 single trips (two trips a day) is issued at the fare of 25 single trips on fixed routes up to 60 km, for students enrolled in a recognised educational institution and generally under 21 years of age. Full details, including how to apply and which routes qualify, are covered in UPSRTC’s dedicated student concession guide.
How to Claim a Concession
- Carry valid proof for your category — an MP/MLA card, freedom fighter certificate, gallantry award document, UDID/disability certificate, or press accreditation, as applicable.
- Inform the counter or conductor at the time of booking or boarding that you are travelling under a concession category.
- Retain your identification for the full journey, since it may be checked again during travel.
- For students, apply for the monthly pass separately through the applicable UPSRTC process rather than at the general ticket counter.
Because concession rules and documentation requirements can be updated by UPSRTC from time to time, it is worth confirming current requirements at your depot or on the official concession page before travel, especially for less common categories.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does UPSRTC offer a senior citizen fare concession?
No general senior-citizen concession is currently listed on UPSRTC’s official concession page. The published categories cover distinguished citizens (MPs, ex-MLAs/MLCs, freedom fighters), gallantry award holders, persons with disabilities, and children, rather than age-based senior discounts.
Do children travel free on UPSRTC buses?
Yes, children under 5 years travel free, and children aged 5–12 years are charged 50% of the normal fare. Full fare applies above 12 years.
What documents are needed for a disability concession on UPSRTC?
Passengers travelling under the disability concession category should carry a valid disability certificate or UDID card issued by the competent authority, along with photo identification.
Are students eligible for a UPSRTC fare concession?
Students are not part of the general concession list but can use UPSRTC’s monthly pass scheme, which offers 60 single trips (two per day) for the price of 25 single trips on fixed routes up to 60 km, for those enrolled in a recognised institution and generally under 21 years of age.
Who qualifies as a distinguished citizen for UPSRTC free travel?
UPSRTC’s distinguished-citizen category includes sitting and former Members of Parliament, former MLAs and MLCs, recognised freedom fighters, individuals honoured for safeguarding democracy, accredited journalists, and teachers who received national or state awards.
Where can I confirm the latest UPSRTC concession rules?
The official UPSRTC concession page carries the most current rules and is periodically updated; depot ticket counters can also confirm documentation requirements for a specific category before you travel.
Related UPSRTC Guides
- UPSRTC Student Concession
- UPSRTC Divyang Concession
- UPSRTC Bus Enquiry Number
- UPSRTC MD & Head Office: Organisation Structure
