Over 12 Lakh Women Benefit from Stree Shakti Free Bus Service in Andhra Pradesh

The Stree Shakti free bus service in Andhra Pradesh has seen over 12 lakh women utilise it within the first 30 hours of its launch. This initiative aims to empower women and reduce travel costs significantly.

In Andhra Pradesh, over 12 lakh women utilised the free bus travel service within the first 30 hours of its launch. The 'Stree Shakti' scheme, introduced by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on August 15 at Vijayawada's Pandit Nehru Bus Station, provides free travel on select buses for girls, women, and transgender individuals with Andhra Pradesh domicile status.

The scheme is expected to cost Rs 1,942 crore annually and Rs 162 crore monthly. The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) will recover these costs by submitting zero-fare tickets to the state government for reimbursement. This initiative allows beneficiaries to travel across the state using five categories of APSRTC services: Pallevelugu, Ultra Pallevelugu, City Ordinary, Metro Express, and Express.

Free Bus Service Success

"Stree Shakti free bus service launched by the Andhra Pradesh government is a grand success… In the past 30 hours, over 12 lakh women travelled freely in RTC APSRTC buses," an official source stated. The Chief Minister is closely monitoring the scheme's progress. Beneficiaries have saved up to Rs 5 crore since its inception.

Following requests from women, Naidu instructed officials to extend free bus services on ghat routes. Initially, APSRTC did not offer this due to anticipated high demand. However, this extension aims to accommodate more beneficiaries across various terrains.

Beneficiary Statistics and Future Expectations

A Appala Raju, Executive Director of APSRTC operations, reported that around 76,000 beneficiaries used the service on the first day. By 3 pm on Saturday, approximately five lakh had availed themselves of it. The total ridership in the first 30 hours exceeded 12 lakh. The monetary value of five lakh zero-fare tickets issued till 3 pm was about Rs 2.5 crore.

Raju noted a positive response but mentioned that some beneficiaries might not have used the service due to the Janmastami festival. He expects a similar pattern on Sunday and anticipates Monday will show the scheme's true demand as it is a working day.

Identity Verification for Zero-Fare Tickets

Starting Monday, August 18, many women employees are expected to use the free bus rides. Besides Aadhar cards, other identity documents proving local domicile status will be accepted for issuing zero-fare tickets. APSRTC officials may accept photocopies of Aadhar or soft copies shown on mobile phones.

Ration cards and driving licenses are also accepted by bus conductors as valid identification. According to Raju, APSRTC conductors update zero-fare tickets in real-time using a web-based ticketing system.

The initiative has shown significant early success and is anticipated to continue benefiting many residents across Andhra Pradesh. As the scheme progresses, adjustments like extending services to ghat routes demonstrate responsiveness to public needs.

With inputs from PTI