Women passenger count on KSRTC Ordinary buses rises to 11.84 lakh on Day 2 of free travel scheme

The Priyadarshini free travel scheme for women and transgender persons in Kerala has seen a remarkable response, with the number of women passengers on Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) Ordinary buses reaching 11.84 lakh on June 16, the second day of its rollout. This represents an increase of approximately 2.21 lakh over the opening day figure of 9.63 lakh on June 15. A week prior to the launch, on June 8, women passengers on these buses totalled 7.25 lakh, underscoring the immediate impact of the initiative.

The proportion of women passengers on Ordinary buses has risen sharply. On June 8, they constituted about 50% of all passengers; on June 15, their share grew to 56%, and on June 16 it climbed to 64%. Overall, on June 16, KSRTC buses across all categories carried 25.53 lakh passengers, of whom 12.03 lakh were women, accounting for around 47% of total ridership.

Transport Minister C.P. John told the press in Thiruvananthapuram that the estimated expenditure incurred by KSRTC for providing free travel on June 16 was ₹2.46 crore. He affirmed that the State government would reimburse this cost in full. However, when asked about the timetable or modality of reimbursement—whether daily, weekly, or monthly—the Minister refrained from sharing specific details, citing internal arrangements between the government and the corporation.

The Minister also clarified that no KSRTC bus had been rebranded as City Fast. Instead, two City Fast buses were converted to Ordinary buses on selected routes in the capital, Thiruvananthapuram, to enable more passengers to avail the scheme’s benefits. City Fast services are typically limited-stop buses with higher fares; by reclassifying them as Ordinary, they cover all stops and become part of the free travel scheme for eligible passengers.

The launch of the scheme has raised concerns among private bus operators, who fear substantial revenue losses. Responding to this, Minister John stated that the government is prepared to engage in dialogue with private operators to find a solution. He emphasized that the government values the private transport sector and is open to discussions to address their apprehensions.

In light of the overwhelming public response, the Minister said the KSRTC is considering introducing additional services in different parts of the State in the future, based on demand patterns. This would help extend the benefits to more passengers and possibly ease crowding on certain routes.

The Priyadarshini scheme was a key promise in the United Democratic Front’s election manifesto and was launched by Chief Minister V.D. Satheeshan on Monday. Under its provisions, women and transgender persons are entitled to free travel on seven categories of KSRTC services: Ordinary, City Ordinary, Limited-Stop Ordinary, Fair-Stage Ordinary, Town-to-Town, Point-to-Point, and Gramavandi. The scheme is designed to promote social inclusion and economic empowerment by removing transport cost barriers for these groups.

The sharp increase in women ridership points to latent demand that was previously constrained by affordability. For KSRTC, which has been grappling with financial difficulties, the scheme brings both opportunity and challenge. While it may boost overall patronage and strengthen the corporation’s social role, it also requires assured and timely reimbursements from the government to maintain operational viability. The Minister’s assurance seeks to allay such concerns.

The conversion of City Fast buses into Ordinary ones in Thiruvananthapuram indicates a flexible, demand-driven approach by the authorities. Meanwhile, the proposed talks with private operators reflect awareness of the larger transport ecosystem and the need for a balanced policy. With the scheme garnering such high uptake early on, its long-term sustainability and impact on Kerala’s public transport landscape will be watched closely by policymakers and the public alike.