From ₹57Cr to ₹112Cr: KSRTC calculates cost of free women's travel as Minister reaffirms June 15 launch

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Transport Minister C.P. John has reaffirmed the government's commitment to launching the free KSRTC transit scheme for women, dismissing any ambiguity surrounding its rollout. Speaking on the project, the Minister announced that the initiative will officially take effect on June 15, with comprehensive feasibility studies currently underway. He explicitly assured that the policy would not adversely impact private bus operators or their staff, noting that the government plans to hold consultative talks with private operators soon.

Addressing potential internal friction, Minister John stated that the state government maintains a consensus with labour unions and that KSRTC employees need not worry about the financial impact affecting their welfare.

KSRTC submits financial feasibility report

To streamline implementation, a high-level delegation led by KSRTC Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) P.S. Pramoj Shankar met with Minister C.P. John for a comprehensive 90-minute briefing. The management submitted a detailed financial impact report highlighting the projected monthly deficits based on different implementation models:

• Ordinary Services Only: Restricting the scheme strictly to ordinary services would cost the state ₹57 crores per month.
• City Fast Services: Including City Fast buses would bump the monthly deficit to between ₹60 crores and ₹62 crores.
• Fast Passenger Services: Extending the benefit to Fast Passenger routes would raise the monthly liability to ₹80–85 crores.
• Superclass Services: If the concession covers the entire fleet, including Super Fast and other premium superclass services, the losses are projected to reach ₹110–112 crores monthly.
• Induced Demand Factor: The report warns that if the free fare induces a surge in female ridership, KSRTC could face an additional operational liability of ₹15 crores per month.

The initiative fulfils a core campaign guarantee made by the UDF during the recent elections. While the initial promise targeted all services, current government deliberations are heavily favouring a middle-ground model that covers Ordinary, Limited Stop, and Fast Passenger buses. According to data estimates, the landmark policy is poised to benefit approximately 12 lakh women commuters who rely on KSRTC services daily.