Will Women in Andhra Enjoy Free Bus Travel Starting August 15?

Amaravati, Aug 14 (NationPress) Starting Friday (August 15), women in Andhra Pradesh will have the opportunity to travel without any fare in APSRTC buses. This initiative is part of the TDP-led NDA government's commitment to fulfill its election promise.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is set to officially unveil the Stree Shakti initiative at PNBS, Vijayawada, joined by leaders from the NDA.

On the occasion of Independence Day, the coalition government emphasizes that women will no longer bear the burden of travel costs.

This scheme allows women to travel for free on five types of APSRTC buses across the state: Pallevelugu, Ultra Pallevelugu, City Ordinary, Express, and Metro Express.

The Transport Department along with APSRTC has established all necessary arrangements, including software support to issue zero-fare tickets to female passengers.

The government estimates that around 2.62 crore women in the state will benefit from this initiative. Out of a total of 11,449 buses in APSRTC, 74 percent will be available for women to travel free of charge. Additionally, the scheme also extends benefits to transgender individuals.

With the launch of this scheme, the TDP-led coalition fulfills another commitment made under the Super Six initiative.

The Stree Shakti scheme is expected to significantly reduce travel expenses for women. Government estimates indicate that women typically travel by bus about four times a week, while working women do so daily. This typically incurs costs of around Rs 1,000 to Rs 3,000 per month for each woman.

The anticipated cost of the scheme for the state government is approximately Rs 1,942 crore annually, which will be reimbursed to APSRTC. In spite of current financial challenges, the government is committed to providing economic relief to women.

To avail themselves of the benefits, passengers must be residents of Andhra Pradesh and present valid ID proof such as Voter ID, Aadhaar, Ration Card, or Driving License to the conductors.

The scheme will not cover Non-Stop, Super Luxury, AC buses, or services operating on ghat roads.

The implementation of this program is expected to cost Rs 162 crore monthly, benefiting nearly 26.95 lakh people daily within the state.

Of the state's population of 5.25 crore, 2.62 crore are women. Under this scheme, women, girls, and transgender individuals residing in Andhra Pradesh will be eligible for free travel from any location to any destination.

This scheme does not apply to non-stop interstate bus services or other categories, nor does it cover contract carriage services, chartered services, or package tours.