Free travel for women in ordinary, fast passenger and limited stop buses? Move to reduce liability through additional revenue

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Reports say the government is thinking of providing free travel to women in ordinary, fast passenger and limited stop buses in KSRTC. A meeting of top officials has been called to discuss this matter. It is believed that if free travel is allowed in ordinary, fast passenger and limited stop buses, the government will have to pay about Rs 60 crore to KSRTC monthly. It is estimated that nearly 12 lakh women travel in KSRTC buses every day.

The government is already providing assistance to KSRTC, including to pay salaries. Those concerned are considering how to implement the project without creating additional liability for the corporation. Some ways were implemented to find additional revenue for KSRTC during the previous government. There are indications that ways to reduce the liability caused by free travel are being considered by finding more such methods or making the ones being implemented more efficient. However, it is not clear how effective this will be. It is believed that the implementation of the decision has been postponed to next month to get more clarity on this matter. Chief Minister V D Satheesan announced yesterday that the free travel scheme will be implemented from June 15.

Meantime, private bus operators have stepped forward against the implementation of free travel. They pointed that if the scheme is implemented, women will completely depend on KSRTC buses for travel and private buses will have to stop their services. The government is trying to resolve the concerns of private bus operators through talks. Auto and taxi workers are also a bit worried. They are concerned of their livelihood.