Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government has officially named its free travel scheme for women as Priyadarshini and announced that the programme will come into effect from June 15. Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan said the benefit will initially be available on ordinary Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses across the state, marking one of the first major welfare initiatives of the new United Democratic Front government.
The announcement has generated widespread interest among women commuters who depend on public transport for work, education, healthcare, and daily activities. The government believes the scheme will ease the financial burden on families and improve mobility for women, particularly those from low income households.
Speaking about the programme, the Chief Minister said the government is committed to fulfilling its promises and ensuring that women can travel safely and freely on public transport. He stated that the scheme has been carefully planned to balance public welfare with the financial realities faced by KSRTC.
Under the Priyadarshini scheme, women passengers will be able to travel free of charge on ordinary KSRTC services from June 15. Premium categories such as superfast, deluxe, and other higher class services are not included in the first phase. Government officials said the decision to limit the benefit to ordinary buses was taken after detailed discussions on the corporation's finances and operational capacity.
The state government has assured KSRTC that it will provide financial support to compensate for revenue losses arising from the free travel programme. Reports indicate that the annual cost of the scheme could run into several hundred crores of rupees. Despite the financial commitment involved, the government considers the initiative an investment in social welfare and women's empowerment.
Preparations for the launch have already begun. In recent weeks, KSRTC introduced a system of recording the gender of passengers while issuing tickets. Officials say the data collected through this process will help the corporation assess the impact of the free travel scheme and understand travel patterns among passengers. The information will also assist the government in planning future improvements and evaluating the success of the programme.
The government has indicated that the scheme will be reviewed after its initial period of implementation. Officials are expected to study passenger numbers, financial implications, and operational challenges before deciding whether any modifications or expansions are required.
The announcement has received a positive response from many women across Kerala. Several commuters have welcomed the move, saying that transportation costs form a significant part of monthly household expenses. Working women, students, and elderly passengers are expected to be among the biggest beneficiaries of the scheme.
At the same time, some private bus operators have expressed concern about the possible impact on their businesses. Representatives of private transport associations have argued that free travel in government buses could lead to a decline in passenger numbers on private services. They have urged the government to monitor the situation closely and consider measures to address any unintended consequences.
The Priyadarshini scheme places Kerala among a growing number of Indian states that have introduced free bus travel programmes for women. Supporters believe such initiatives encourage greater participation of women in education, employment, and public life by reducing one of the everyday costs that many families face.
With just a few days remaining before its launch, the government and KSRTC are making final preparations to ensure the smooth implementation of the Priyadarshini scheme. From June 15, thousands of women across Kerala are expected to benefit from the new initiative as they travel on ordinary KSRTC buses without paying a fare.