A delegation from the Andhra Pradesh government visited the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) on Friday to learn about the women’s free bus travel initiative. Under Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, the Andhra Pradesh government is looking to introduce a similar program, allowing women within the state to travel free of charge on non-premium buses operated by the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC).
A senior official from the state’s Transport, Roads, and Buildings Department mentioned that approximately 25 lakh women would benefit from the scheme daily. The initiative is expected to cost around Rs 277 crore per month. APSRTC operates about 11,200 buses, with 73% being non-premium, which will be included in the program.
The delegation, which included several ministers and senior officials, met with Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy, KSRTC Vice Chairman Mohammed Rizwan Nawab, and Managing Director V Anbukumar. They held discussions on the operational and implementation aspects of the program. Additionally, the delegation toured KSRTC’s depot and examined the different types of buses, such as the Airavat Club Class 2.0, Pallakki, and Fly Bus.
The delegation praised the maintenance efforts, bus branding, and refurbishment initiatives at KSRTC. They also interacted with women passengers at the Shanthinagar Bus Terminal to gather feedback on the free travel scheme, highlighting its positive impact.
Read also