Free travel for women in KSRTC ordinary services starting June 15; government to review after 100 days

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The UDF government's flagship initiative providing free bus travel for women will commence on June 15 across all Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) ordinary services. The decision was finalised during a high-level review meeting chaired by Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan.
Under the new scheme, KSRTC will maintain a daily log of women passengers and calculate the monthly financial liability incurred through the free rides. The state government has committed to reimbursing KSRTC to offset these operational expenses.

The government plans to collect comprehensive data during the first 100 days of the rollout. This evaluation period will track passenger growth, financial overheads, and public feedback. Any necessary structural adjustments to the project will be implemented following this assessment phase.
In a move toward broader social inclusivity, the benefits of the scheme have also been extended to transgender individuals. The policy features no socio-economic restrictions, ensuring that all women, regardless of employment status or financial background, are eligible for free travel.

According to data submitted by KSRTC to the government, restricting the free travel scheme to ordinary buses will incur an annual liability of ₹712 crore. Extending the benefit to all bus categories would push the fiscal burden to ₹1,300 crore. While initial discussions explored including super-class services—starting from Fast Passenger buses—the government is not considering that expansion at this stage.
Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan has instructed officials to expedite all procedural formalities to ensure a smooth launch. The review meeting also noted that amendments to existing transport regulations will be examined if required for the smooth execution of the project.

A major operational hurdle remains regarding the "City Fast" services, particularly in the capital district. A substantial portion of Thiruvananthapuram’s urban fleet operates under the City Fast category, which charges higher fares. Aside from a few electric bus routes, standard ordinary services are limited to just a handful of routes operating out of the Kizhakkekotta(East Fort), Peroorkada, Pappanamcode, and Vikas Bhavan depots.
A final decision on whether to extend the free travel concession to these City Fast buses has not yet been reached. While KSRTC records indicate a total fleet of 2,800 ordinary buses, only an average of 1,600 are currently operational on the roads.