Priyadarshini free travel; Govt steps in with overdraft facility to ease revenue loss

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: An agreement is being reached to provide money in connection with KSRTC's free travel scheme Priyadarshini. The government has decided to provide an overdraft to KSRTC through the Kerala Financial Corporation. The overdraft is being granted with government guarantee for a period of six months. It has been found that KSRTC is losing an average of Rs 2.5 crore in revenue through the Priyadarshini scheme daily.

Transport Minister C P John had clarified the other day that there has been a huge increase in the number of women passengers in KSRTC buses with the implementation of the scheme. Earlier, 10 lakh women travelled daily, but now it has increased to 15 lakhs. This has resulted in a liability of about Rs 2.5 crore for KSRTC daily. However, when examined from a financial perspective, this scheme has enabled more than Rs 7 crore to be directly transferred to the hands of ordinary women daily.

Rs 600 crore has been allocated in the budget for the Priyadarshini scheme. The government is planning to formulate a comprehensive transport policy in the state. The minister had also clarified that the new policy will give great importance to the safety of pedestrians along with vehicles.

Meantime, more ordinary buses are likely to come to Thiruvananthapuram for women. It is also reported that these buses will be allowed on routes that only carry fast passengers.