The Kerala government has announced the rollout of its much-anticipated Priyadarshini scheme, under which women and transgender persons will be able to travel free of cost on select Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus services from June 15. In preparation for the launch, KSRTC on Saturday released a list of bus categories that will be covered under the scheme. According to officials, free travel will be available on seven categories of ordinary bus services operated by KSRTC. These include Ordinary, City Ordinary, Limited Stop Ordinary, Fair-Stage Ordinary, Town-to-Town, Point-to-Point, and Gramavandi services. To help passengers easily identify eligible buses, KSRTC will display special stickers on all services covered under the scheme.
What is the Priyadarshini Scheme?
The Priyadarshini scheme aims to provide free bus travel for women and transgender persons, reducing transportation costs and enhancing economic independence. The initiative was one of the key election promises made by the United Democratic Front (UDF) during the Assembly election campaign.
The first phase of the project will focus exclusively on KSRTC’s ordinary bus services. The scheme, one of the five flagship guarantees announced by the UDF, will be formally inaugurated in Thiruvananthapuram on June 15 by Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan.
The state government has assured that it will compensate KSRTC for the financial burden arising from the implementation of the scheme.
Government to Bear Additional Financial Burden
Earlier this week, Chief Minister V D Satheesan said the Cabinet had approved the implementation of the “Indira Guarantee” of free bus travel for women, which will initially be offered through KSRTC’s ordinary services.
Addressing a press conference after the Cabinet meeting, the Chief Minister said the Priyadarshini scheme would cost KSRTC more than Rs 60 crore per month, translating to nearly Rs 800 crore annually. The entire expenditure will be borne by the state government.
Satheesan clarified that the benefit will be available to women of all ages and backgrounds, regardless of their income level, and will also extend to transgender persons.
Rs 800 Crore Support in Addition to Existing Assistance
The Chief Minister noted that the state government already provides around Rs 1,500 crore annually to KSRTC to meet salary and pension obligations.
“In addition to the Rs 1,500 crore already being provided to KSRTC, the government will allocate another Rs 800 crore annually for the Priyadarshini scheme,” he said.
At the same time, the government has directed KSRTC to adopt measures over the next six months to improve revenue generation. According to Satheesan, the transport corporation has agreed to implement reforms aimed at strengthening its financial position.
Expansion Planned in Future Phases
The government has described the current rollout as only the first phase of the initiative. Authorities plan to purchase additional buses and introduce more services to improve KSRTC’s operational efficiency and profitability.
Once the corporation’s financial health improves through increased revenue generation, the government will consider expanding the scheme in subsequent phases.
The Chief Minister said the scheme’s implementation will be reviewed every month. The review will assess factors such as the availability of KSRTC buses in different regions, especially in Malabar, passenger usage patterns, and the demand for ordinary bus services among women. Based on the findings, the government may explore alternative measures or further expansion.
Part of UDF’s Five ‘Indira Guarantees’
The Priyadarshini scheme is one of the five “Indira Guarantees” announced by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during the Assembly election campaign in March this year. The guarantees include:
Free KSRTC bus travel for women
A monthly stipend of Rs 1,000 for girl students in colleges.
Increase in welfare pension to Rs 3,000.
Health insurance coverage of up to Rs 25 lakh per household.
Interest-free loans of up to Rs 5 lakh for young entrepreneurs.
With the launch of Priyadarshini, Kerala joins a growing list of states that have introduced free public transport schemes for women, aiming to boost mobility, improve access to education and employment, and promote greater social and economic participation.
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