Vizag Women Can Travel For Free On 550 Buses
Under the scheme, 686 buses will operate across Visakhapatnam district, collectively covering over 234,000 scheduled kilometres.
VISAKHAPATNAM: In a significant step toward women’s mobility and empowerment, Revenue minister Angani Satya Prasad launched the Andhra Pradesh government’s Stree Shakti free bus travel scheme for women in Visakhapatnam on Saturday at the Maddilapalem RTC depot in the presence of local legislators and civic officials.
Under the scheme, 686 buses will operate across Visakhapatnam district, collectively covering over 234,000 scheduled kilometres. Of these, approximately 550 buses, accounting for 80 per cent of the fleet, will cover 71 per cent of the total route, enabling free travel for women across 122,767 kilometres daily.
Speaking at the launch programme, the minister said free bus travel is designed to ease the financial burden of daily commuting for women, apart from improving access to education, employment and healthcare.
To avail the free service, women must be residents of Andhra Pradesh and carry any valid government-issued identity card. Eligible passengers can travel free of cost on Palle Velugu, Ultra Palle Velugu, Express, City Ordinary and Metro Express buses throughout the state.
Visakhapatnam currently sees a daily ridership of around 310,000 passengers, including 150,000 bus pass holders and 160,000 ordinary ticket users.
Satya Prasad called on staff to ensure courteousness and prompt resolution of passenger grievances.
Those present at the launch of free bus travel programme in Vizag included MP M. Sribharat, East MLA Velugapudi Ramakrishna Babu, South MLA Vamsi Krishna Srinivasa Yadav, North MLA P. Vishnukumar Raju, West MLA Ganababu, Pendurthi MLA Panchakarla Ramesh, MLC Dr. Vepada Chiranjeevi Rao, GVMC mayor Sri Pila Srinivasa Rao, district collector M. Harendira Prasad, city police commissioner Shankabrata Bagchi, and district public transport officer B. Appalanaidu.
