Hyderabad: The Telangana government on Sunday said the Mahalakshmi free bus travel scheme for women has resulted in estimated savings of about Rs 10,000 crore since its launch in December 2023.
According to Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) Vice Chairman and Managing Director V.C. Sajjanar (Nagireddy — keep exactly as your input if you confirm which name you want used), women passengers have made over 290 crore free journeys under the scheme so far.
Officials said the scheme has particularly benefited women from middle and lower income groups, including students, daily workers and employees who earlier spent a significant part of their income on transportation.
RTC authorities said many women who earlier spent between about Rs 1,500 and Rs 2,500 every month on travel are now able to use that money for household needs, education and savings.
The corporation also reported a sharp rise in the share of women passengers in RTC services. The percentage of women commuters has increased from around 40 percent earlier to more than 67 percent now, with an average of about 35 lakh women travelling daily.
Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar said the scheme has improved access to education, employment, healthcare and other essential services by making travel easier for women.
He also appreciated RTC staff for managing the increased passenger load after introduction of the scheme.
Officials said the Mahalakshmi scheme currently covers about 81 percent of RTC buses, including Pallevelugu, District Express and several city services.
The government is also planning to introduce chip-based smart cards for women passengers to simplify verification procedures and improve travel data management.
