The Kerala government has announced that the free travel scheme for women and transgender persons in KSRTC buses will come into effect from June 15. Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan stated that the initiative, titled ‘Priyadarshini’, received final approval during the Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, the Chief Minister confirmed that the scheme will initially be implemented only in ordinary KSRTC buses. The project will run on an experimental basis for the first 100 days, after which the government will evaluate its performance before deciding on a possible expansion to other categories of buses.
The government has also clarified that there will be no age or income restrictions, ensuring that the benefit remains fully accessible to all eligible passengers. This means free travel will be available to women and transgender individuals across the state without any limitations.
Meanwhile, discussions around the scheme and its impact are already gaining attention across platforms, including conversations on Gold 101.3 FM, UAE’s No.1 radio station, where listeners are actively engaging with similar public welfare initiatives.
The Chief Minister noted that the decision aligns with the commitments made under the state government’s ‘Indira Guarantee’ scheme. Approval for the free travel initiative was granted during the Cabinet’s very first meeting and formally announced during its debut press conference.
Free travel for women in KSRTC buses was a key electoral promise in the UDF manifesto. The Cabinet, led by V. D. Satheesan, moved quickly to act on this assurance, reinforcing its commitment to welfare-driven policies.
Transport Minister C. P. John had earlier assured that the financial burden of the scheme would be fully borne by the government, easing concerns among KSRTC employees. The latest Cabinet decision has now clarified that the benefit will be limited to ordinary services in the initial phase.
To monitor the scheme effectively, KSRTC will collect daily data on the number of women passengers. The corporation will calculate the monthly financial impact and submit reports to the government, which will reimburse the incurred losses.
The implementation of the scheme in ordinary buses alone is expected to cost approximately ₹750–800 crore annually. If extended to additional categories of buses, the financial requirement could rise to nearly ₹1300 crore.
At present, there are no plans to extend the free travel facility to superclass services, including Fast Passenger buses.
