Thiruvananthapuram :Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan on Wednesday said the Cabinet has decided that the Indira guarantee of free bus travel for women will initially be available on KSRTC’s ordinary services from June 15.
Satheesan, at a press conference after the Cabinet meeting chaired by him, said that the concession, called ‘Priyadarshini’, in its current format will cost the KSRTC over Rs 60 crore per month or around Rs 800 crore annually.
He further said that the concession will be available for women of all ages and all walks of life, irrespective of their financial background.
The CM said that once the financial health of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) improves by increasing its revenue generation, providing the concession on other services will be considered
He also emphasized that the state government is committed to ensuring the smooth implementation of the ‘Priyadarshini’ scheme without compromising the operational efficiency of the transport corporation.
To mitigate the initial financial burden on KSRTC, the government plans to work out a subsidy or reimbursement mechanism in the upcoming supplementary budget.
Satheesan noted that empowering women through affordable and accessible public transport is a core priority of the administration, which is expected to significantly boost women’s participation in the local workforce and economy.
