Touted as a vital initiative for women’s empowerment, the Congress-led UDF government in Kerala on Monday launched its ambitious flagship ‘Priyadarshini’ free travel scheme for all women and transgender persons on ordinary buses operated by the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC).
Inaugurating the initiative at the Thampanoor Central Bus Station in Thiruvananthapuram by flagging off a service operated by an all-women crew on Monday, Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan said it was not an act of charity but a welfare measure with significant socio-economic impact.
“Thousands of women depend on KSRTC every day for work, education, healthcare, office-related needs and other purposes. This scheme will strengthen their financial security and self-reliance,” he said.
The initiative is expected to benefit a large number of daily commuters by reducing transportation expenses and promoting greater access to education, employment and other opportunities.
The benefit is not restricted to Kerala residents. Any woman or transgender person boarding an eligible KSRTC bus within the state qualifies for free travel, including tourists and daily interstate commuters.
There is no cap on the travel distance or the number of stops. Passengers can ride free from the starting point to the final destination of any eligible ordinary service route .While travel is free, obtaining a zero-value Electronic Ticket Machine (ETM) ticket from the conductor is mandatory
ith this rollout, Kerala has become the ninth Indian state/UT to implement a zero-fare public transit network for women. It follows similar gender-focused transport initiatives implemented across India, such as- Shakti Scheme (Karnataka), Mahalakshmi Scheme (Telangana),Vidiyal Payanam (Tamil Nadu),Stree Shakti (Andhra Pradesh), and Pink Ticket (Delhi-NCR).
The CPM boycotted the event accusing the UDF government of diluting its election manifesto by limiting free rides to ordinary buses rather than all KSRTC networks..
The BJP held protests alleging that the UDF had failed to implement its promise in its entirety.