Kerala launches the “Priyadarshini” free bus travel scheme, offering free travel to women and transgender persons on selected KSRTC (Kerala State Road Transport Corporation) ordinary services. The scheme specifies who is eligible, which routes and services are covered, and how the programme is implemented across KSRTC buses.
According to reports, the Chief Minister states that implementing the scheme does not create any additional financial burden on KSRTC. The scheme therefore focuses on extending free travel while keeping the operator’s costs within existing arrangements.
The Opposition also raises concerns, questioning aspects of the scheme’s design and execution, and criticising it on policy grounds. The reports emphasise that the government has detailed operational aspects such as eligibility and covered services, while political parties continue to debate the programme’s implications.
Overall, the launch expands free public transport access for women and transgender persons on the designated KSRTC ordinary routes, with the government asserting that it will not increase KSRTC’s financial load.
