Arrangements for Free Bus Travel to AP Women Gain Momentum
Sthree Sakthi scheme to cover 74% of RTC fleet; zero fare tickets to show savings, subsidy
Vijayawada: With only four more days left for start of the free bus ride scheme for women in Andhra Pradesh, officials have increased the pace of arrangements for the Sthree Sakthi initiative across the state.
Chief minister Chandrababu Naidu would formally launch the scheme on Independence Day, August 15.
Some 74 per cent of the RTC buses would be used for the scheme, part of the TD-led alliance’s Super Six welfare promise held out during the 2024 polls.
The chief minister has directed APSRTC officials to issue ‘Zero Fare Ticket’ to the women passengers under the Sthree Sakthi with details of the route to be travelled, the amount of money saved through the free service availed and the full 100% subsidy to be provided by the state government. The CM has asked officials to develop the software for the scheme.
Transport minister, Mandipalli Ramprasad, said buses of the Palle Velugu, Ultra Palle Velugu, City Ordinary, Express and Metro Express would be pressed into service for the Sthree Sakthi scheme.
According to officials, Sthree Sakthi initiative would involve use of 74 per cent of the total 11,449 buses operated by the APSRTC --numbering 8,458. All RTC services would not be covered under this initiative.
Express buses that operate interstate routes connecting AP with Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Telangana, are not included. This decision is particularly pertinent for express buses travelling through steep regions in the Alluri Sitarama Raju and Nandyal districts, where increased ridership could complicate operations.
Non-stop express services would also be excluded from free travel.
The shortage of drivers would have an impact on the bus services. Hence, to combat the shortage of drivers, APSRTC plans to increase the number of on-call drivers for temporary assignments at each depot. Public transport officials in various districts are actively recruiting these on-call personnel.
Areas facing a staffing shortage for conductors would see existing conductors reassigned from other duties to fill these gaps.
Officials anticipate that the introduction of free travel for women may lead to a decline in male passengers. Currently, men constitute 60 per cent of the passengers and women 40 per cent. Following the Sthree Sakthi scheme's launch, the proportion of male passengers could drop to 33 per cent while that of females may rise to 67 per cent.
Notably, the women employees and workers who now travel in buses on daily tickets, route passes or monthly bus passes would not have to purchase these tickets from August 15.
