CM Says Women Saved Rs.5 Crore on Day 1 of Free Bus Travel
The CM is regularly reviewing the implementation of the Stree Shakti free bus scheme.
Vijayawada: Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu has asked party leaders and cadres to widely publicise the Stree Shakti free RTC bus travel for women in Andhra Pradesh, so that all women can avail the opportunity to travel free to the destinations of their choice.
The CM is regularly reviewing the implementation of the Stree Shakti free bus scheme. After one of the reviews, he said over 12 lakh women passengers have travelled free in RTC buses during the last 30 hours. Following petitions from women, he ordered that women be allowed to travel free on the ghat routes too.
Earlier, APSRTC had disallowed free travel on ghat routes, as too many passengers would lead to buses finding it difficult to traverse through the hilly sections.
Officials anticipate most women employees will take the buses from Monday, August 18, and there is the possibility of a heavy rush. They said the government is considering acceptance of the soft copy of Aadhaar on mobile phones as proof of residence, before a free ticket is issued.
Many TD leaders, including legislators, participated in the Stree Shakti programmes in various areas of the state on Saturday. Vijayawada MP Kesineni Sivanath alias Chinni launched the free bus service at Sitara Labour Colony in the West constituency on Saturday. He said free bus travel would boost the confidence among women. Later, the MP travelled by bus with the women from Labour Colony Ground to Swathi Theatre. He paid money to the conductor and collected his ticket. Chinni interacted with women on how they feel about the free bus travel.
Government whip and Vijayawada Central MLA Bonda Umamaheswara Rao launched the Stree Shakti Free Bus travel at the NTR Statue on Pipula Road junction in Vijayawada on Saturday. The MLA said Chandrababu Naidu has fulfilled his promise to women by implementing the Stree Shakti scheme.
