Naidu To Travel By Bus Today As Stree Shakti Completes One Year

Naidu will take part in a special programme after attending the Independence Day celebrations at the Capital Parade Ground. He will travel by bus from the Parade Ground to the CM’s Camp Office along with beneficiaries of the scheme.

At the camp office, Naidu will participate in a high tea along with the women and interact with them on the implementation of Stree Shakti, the benefits they have received and their experiences. He will also seek their feedback and suggestions on improving the scheme.

The programme completes a year on August 15. An average of 24 lakh women travel free every day under the scheme.

The government provides a subsidy of `8.53 crore a day towards women's travel, with expenditure reaching `3,095 crore in the first year. The scheme is available on five categories of APSRTC buses — Express, Ultra Pallevelugu, Pallevelugu, Metro Express and City Ordinary.

Of the corporation's 9,978 buses, 7,631, or 76 per cent, are being utilised for the scheme. The facility has also been extended to women travelling on special bus services to temples.

The scheme has increased women's participation in APSRTC services. Before its introduction, women accounted for 40 per cent of passengers. Their share has now risen to 62 per cent, while daily ridership among women has increased from 9.47 lakh to 24 lakh. Occupancy on buses covered by the scheme has reached 93 per cent.

The government said the initiative had helped women access education, employment, healthcare, small businesses and other essential services. College students, women commuting between villages and towns for petty businesses and those travelling to places of worship are among the beneficiaries.

Women can travel anywhere within the state by showing their Aadhaar card. Officials said Andhra Pradesh had extended the benefit to five categories of buses, while similar schemes in Telangana and Karnataka covered four categories.

Officials have also reported a decline in rural road accidents following the introduction of Stree Shakti. They said the shift from shared autos and private vehicles to APSRTC buses could have contributed to the reduction.

The government is organising statewide programmes under the theme “One Year of Stree Shakti” to mark the milestone, with Naidu's bus journey and interaction with beneficiaries forming the highlight of the celebrations.