Nizamabad: The Maha Lakshmi free bus rides for women and third-gender passengers in TSRTC buses have boosted the occupancy ratio of buses, with even long-distance services between Hyderabad and Warangal clocking full occupancy.
While the average occupancy ratio is around 70 per cent, it has gone up to 90 per cent following the introduction of the scheme.
A senior TSRTC conductor told Deccan Chronicle that earlier, they hardly collected Rs.22,000 in fares in bus service from Banswada to Hyderabad. “Now, we have registered a record Rs.50,000 collection from one trip, including (potential government reimbursement for) Maha Lakshmi passengers,” the conductor said.
“If the state government reimburses zero tickets issued to women passengers, the coffers of RTC will fill abundantly. Net collection is only Rs.15,000 per trip,” he said.
A ground check by the reporter also found key bus stations — at Nizamabad, Kamareddy, Bodhan, Armoor, Banswada and other mandal headquarters — witnessing an increased rush of passengers, significantly, women.
Bus drivers and conductors said they were facing a tough time managing the full capacity of buses daily.
TSRTC Nizamabad regional manager John Reddy said that free travel for women was allowed till the Telangana border in interstate services. “We will issue zero tickets till the last stage of the state border and then onwards, women passengers should bear full charges,” he said.
He said more buses would be added and staffing adjustments made, as per passenger needs.
