Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Naidu initiates Stree Shakti initiative, offering complimentary bus rides for women in APSRTC vehicles.
Newsmaker: Andhra Pradesh's 'Stree Shakti' Scheme Offers Free Bus Travel to Women, Girls, and Transgender Persons
In a significant move to empower women and transgender communities, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has launched the 'Stree Shakti' scheme. This flagship welfare programme across the state offers free bus travel to women, girls, and transgender persons with Andhra Pradesh domicile status.
The scheme covers approximately 2.62 crore women in the state, benefiting them across five categories of APSRTC buses: Pallevelugu (rural buses), Ultra Pallevelugu, City Ordinary buses, Metro Express, and Express services. These five categories constitute a broad coverage for intra- and inter-district travel across Andhra Pradesh.
The government has allocated around Rs 162 crore per month to fund this free travel scheme. On launch day, over 12 lakh women travelled free, saving an estimated Rs 5 crore in bus fare in just 30 hours. The scheme is estimated to save women around Rs 6.3 crore daily, facilitating access to hospitals, workplaces, temples, and essential travel.
Initially, free travel excluded buses on ghat (hill) roads due to safety and overload concerns. However, following government instructions, the scheme now includes ghat road routes, such as the important Tirumala hill route. The scheme has been extended to cover special pilgrimage routes like Tirumala, benefiting thousands of female pilgrims by eliminating fares that previously cost Rs 90 one-way or Rs 160 for a round-trip.
Women must prove their Andhra Pradesh domicile status using Aadhaar cards (original, xerox, or soft copy on mobile phones) or other valid identity documents to avail free travel. Electronic Point of Sale (EPOS) systems were updated before the launch to issue zero-fare tickets. APSRTC has been actively spreading awareness and upgrading bus stations with a Rs 30 crore repair budget to support smooth scheme rollout.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu reviewed the scheme before its launch and stated that the 'Stree Shakti' scheme is one of the 'Super Six' welfare schemes promised by the ruling NDA Government in Andhra Pradesh. He further stated that these schemes had become a 'super hit' and the State was marching towards progress.
The 'Stree Shakti' scheme does not apply to non-stop interstate bus services, contract carriage services, chartered services, and package tours. The cost of the scheme is estimated to be ₹162 crore per month, approximately ₹1,942 crore per year. The scheme was launched at Pandit Nehru City bus station in Vijayawada, and it is expected to benefit about 26.95 lakh people daily in the State.
- The government's allocation of around Rs 162 crore per month towards the 'Stree Shakti' scheme in Andhra Pradesh is a part of the state's finance sector allocation, aimed at empowering women and transgender communities through free bus travel.
- As the 'Stree Shakti' scheme covers various categories of APSRTC buses, it has significant implications for the transportation industry, particularly intra- and inter-district travel, by providing free travel options for women, girls, and transgender persons.
- With the inclusion of ghat road routes in the 'Stree Shakti' scheme, these women, girls, and transgender persons will be able to access essential services in remote areas of the transportation industry, such as Tirumala hill route pilgrimage, with significant financial savings.
