Women, girls, and third gender individuals of all ages in Telangana State can now travel for free on Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) buses. This new scheme is being implemented by the Congress government as part of their promise to empower women. The scheme, called Mahalakshmi, will be launched on December 9, coinciding with Sonia Gandhi’s birthday.
Under this scheme, people can travel for free within the state using various identity cards such as Aadhaar, voter ID, driving license, PAN card, or passport. There will be no restrictions on the distance they can travel.
The TSRTC is fully prepared for the implementation of this scheme, with 7,292 buses available for beneficiaries. It is expected that the number of women passengers will increase from 40% to 50-55% with the introduction of this scheme. However, this will result in a decrease in revenue for TSRTC. Currently, they earn Rs 14 crore daily, but with free bus travel, this is expected to decrease by 50%. TSRTC will seek reimbursement from the government to cover this gap.
TSRTC will closely monitor the travel pattern during the initial days of the scheme and will request additional buses from the government if needed. Officials have been instructed to manage bus stations efficiently to avoid congestion due to the increase in passengers.
Overall, this scheme is seen as a historical decision that will greatly benefit women and improve the public transport system in Telangana State.
