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The Print
13 hours ago
- Politics
- The Print
Naidu set to roll out another ‘Super Six' promise. How free bus rides for women scheme will work
Congress-ruled Karnataka too launched a similar scheme in June 2023. In both Karnataka and Telangana, the scheme is believed to have played some part in the Congress storming to power. Approved by the Andhra Pradesh cabinet Wednesday, the 'Stree-Shakti' scheme is expected to cost the state government Rs 1,942 crore each year. A similar scheme (Mahalakshmi) was rolled out in neighbouring Telangana by the Revanth Reddy-led Congress government in December 2023. Hyderabad: In a week from now, women and trans people will be able to travel free of charge on Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) buses as the Chandrababu Naidu-led government gears up to roll out another one of its 'Super Six' election promises on 15 August. However, while the Mahalakshmi scheme in Telangana was flagged off by CM Revanth Reddy within two days of his swearing-in, in Andhra Pradesh the scheme is being rolled out 14 months after the TDP-Jana Sena combine with Chandrababu Naidu at the helm formed a government. 'Under the scheme, women, girls, and transgenders belonging to the state are provided the opportunity to travel free of charge from anywhere to anywhere,' Kolusu Parthasarathy, the state minister for information & public relations and housing, said Wednesday at Amaravati. Kantilal Dande, principal secretary (transport, roads & buildings), told ThePrint the scheme will apply to five types of state-run buses: PalleVelugu, Ultra PalleVelugu, City Ordinary, Metro Express, and Express. Those eligible can avail of it by showing their Aadhaar, voter ID or ration card to the bus conductor. While the first four types of buses operate on short-distance routes, the Express service plies on long-distance routes—Vijayawada to Tirupati, for instance. Dande clarified that the 'Stree-Shakti' scheme will not apply to non-stop interstate bus services or any other types, including higher-priced segments like Ultra Deluxe and Super Luxury. The scheme will also not apply to contract carriage services, chartered services, and package tours. Women make up 49.9 percent (2.62 crore) of Andhra Pradesh's total population (5.25 crore). Under this scheme, free travel for women and trans persons will be available for 74 percent of APSRTC's total fleet of 6,700 buses. The scheme is expected to cost the state government Rs 162 crore per month. The government expects that the scheme will encourage an estimated 10.84 lakh more women commuters to use state-run buses, besides the 16.11 lakh women already using APSRTC services. 'In implementing this scheme, the government will place great emphasis on the safety of women and girls by providing body cameras to female conductors and installing CC cameras in buses. Similarly, basic facilities like fans and good water facilities will also be provided at bus stations,' said the minister. It is learnt that APSRTC plans to procure more than 4,000 electric buses over the next two years, while also recruiting more drivers and mechanics, to be able to cater to increased demand. (Edited by Amrtansh Arora) Also Read: Karnataka women are on non-stop joy ride. Backpacking to temples & palaces on free Shakti
The Hindu
a day ago
- Business
- The Hindu
APSRTC Hire Bus Owners' Association's seeks subsidy under SC/ST sub-plan
Vehicle owners from SC, ST and OBC sections have urged the government to release the subsidy amount, at least through the SC/ST sub-plan funds, for their vehicles purchased under the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) scheme. At a press conference in Vijayawada on Thursday (August 7), they alleged gross injustice meted out at them by the previous government, which did not release the subsidies to them from 2020 to 2024. As a result, they were pushed into severe financial distress and were unable to pay their monthly instalments, salaries to drivers and cleaners and meet the vehicle maintenance expenses. Many had to mortgage family gold or take loans against their homes, they said. Owners of contract buses said the YSRCP government's reverse tendering policy had hit them hard. They said while assigning their buses to the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC), they were allotted non-profitable routes, leading to a loss of about ₹50,000 per bus every month due to poor mileage. Moreover, APSRTC used their drivers as on-call drivers, but paid them more than the owners, leading to a shortage of drivers for the owners themselves. They said as a result, when their buses couldn't operate, they incurred losses and had to pay penalties for non-operation, which only added to the burden. They said many among them were now unable to run their buses and were in a state of financial collapse and requested that if at least the pending subsidies are released, they would get some relief. They said the TDP-led NDA government had promised to release the subsidies by May 15, but the commitment had not yet been fulfilled.
The Hindu
a day ago
- General
- The Hindu
APSRTC ready for free bus travel scheme rollout
The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) is fully prepared to implement the Stree Shakti free bus travel scheme for women, girls, and transgender individuals across the State starting from August 15, announced APSRTC Chairman Konakalla Narayana and Vice Chairman & Managing Director Ch. Dwaraka Tirumala Rao on Thursday. The announcement was made during a review meeting held with officials including Chairman of Vizianagaram Zone Donnu Dora, Zonal ED KS Brahmananda Reddy, ED (Operations) A. Appalaraju, ED (Engineering) T. Chengal Reddy and Visakhapatnam Region DPTO B. Appala Naidu for all the RTC officials of Zone-1. Later interacting with the media, Mr. Konakalla Narayana and Mr. Dwaraka Tirumala Rao said that women will be able to travel free in five categories of APSRTC buses, excluding air-conditioned and high-end buses. Additionally, free travel will not be allowed on ghat road routes in view of possible challenges. 'We anticipate tremendous demand from women passengers and there could be overcrowding of the buses. It can impact the safety of passengers and the efficiency of operations on the ghat roads,' they said. Additionally, the free scheme does not apply to buses operating to Tirumala, Simhachalam, and other hill temples. When asked about tribal women in Agency areas, the Chairman said that free travel will be allowed within Agency areas, but not between Agency areas to towns and cities and vice-versa. Of the 11,500 APSRTC buses operating in Andhra Pradesh, women can avail free travel facility in about 75% of the buses. The scheme involves an additional expenditure of ₹2,000 crore to the Corporation, which will be reimbursed by the State government. At present the occupancy rate in the RTC buses is 69% and it is estimated to go up to 94% or even 100% with the implementation of the free travel scheme. To address potential shortage of buses, the APSRTC has sanctioned 1,050 Electric Buses (EB s), with 750 EB s expected to arrive in the first phase. Transgender individuals are also eligible for the scheme. Women availing the free travel facility must carry their Aadhaar card or any other government-issued ID card confirming that they are natives of Andhra Pradesh. Mr. Narayana added that the preparatory meetings have already held in Tirupati, Guntur, Vijayawada and in Visakhapatnam. RTC Depot Managers, overseeing drivers, conductors and mechanics, will play a key role in the implementation of the scheme by ensuring proper maintenance of the buses, bus stations and amenities at the bus stations.
Hans India
2 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
Cabinet nod for free bus travel for women
Vijayawada: The state Cabinet on Wednesday approved free bus travel for women across the state from August 15. Under the 'Stree Shakti' scheme, the government will provide free travel for women in nearly 75 per cent of the APSRTC's total operational fleet of 11,449 buses. The Cabinet also okayed the privatisation of 22 hotels and resorts of the AP Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) 'to improve service quality, operational efficiency, and revenue'. Other major decisions taken by the Cabinet, at its 27th e-meeting on Wednesday, chaired by Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu at the Secretariat, included approval of the AP Land Incentive for Tech Hub (LIFT) Policy (4.0) for 2024-2029, aimed at attracting major IT companies by offering them land at a subsidised rate of Rs 0.99 per acre across the state. Information & Public Relations, and Housing Minister Kolusu Parthasarathy announced the decisions made by the Cabinet approving important proposals, with focus on fulfilling the coalition government's promises. Parthasarathy said that contrary to reports that 'Stree Shakti' would be implemented only in select districts with limited fleet, women will be allowed to travel free in a total of 8,456 buses. The scheme is expected to cost the government Rs 1,942 crore annually, or approximately Rs 162 crore per month. Services such as Palle Velugu, Ultra Palle Velugu, City Ordinary, Metro Express, and Express will offer free travel to women, benefiting approximately 2.62 crore women, girls, and transgender individuals annually. Each family could save up to Rs 1,000 per month through this initiative, the Minister said. Passengers will need to show an Aadhar, voter, or ration card as ID. The approval of the free bus travel scheme for women, aside from other significant schemes like NTR Bharosa and Thalliki Vandanam demonstrates the government's commitment to its promises, he observed. The Cabinet approved a proposal to select agencies to manage and operate 22 hotels and resorts of the APTDC. The corporation's properties will be divided into six clusters and handed over to private operators. The Cabinet also approved the cancellation of the land allotment to the Oberoi Group in Tirupati, following a request to this effect from the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Board and concerns expressed by locals about the need to maintain the sanctity of Tirumala. The government will now facilitate a land swap with TTD for the AP Tourism Authority (APTA) land. The Cabinet has also given its nod for an amendment to the AP Excise (Grant of Licences) Rules to allow "permit rooms" (in-shop drinking facilities) at A4 liquor shops for the 2024-26 licence period. The new policy will allow these rooms for a licence fee of Rs 5-7.5 lakh, generating estimated additional revenue of Rs 256 crore annually.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Cabinet approves free bus ride for women in Andhra Pradesh from August 15
The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet has approved a series of transformative welfare initiatives ahead of the National Handloom Day, significantly impacting women, weavers, and small business owners across the State. These include the free bus ride for women and handholding to the weaver community and Nayee Brahmins (who are into salon services). Addressing a press conference at the Secretariat on Wednesday, I&PR Minister Kolusu Parthasarathy said, among the flagship measures, was the free bus travel scheme for women, set to be launched on August 15, under the 'Stree Shakti' initiative, which was one of the government's Super Six election promises. 'The scheme will allow over 2.6 crore women, girl students, and transgender individuals to travel free of cost on APSRTC buses, including Palle Velugu, Express, and Metro Express services. Valid ID proof is required, and services such as inter-State, chartered, or package tours are excluded,' the Minister said. Cost to exchequer 'The scheme will apply to 74% of the APSRTC fleet (about 6,700 buses), benefiting nearly 27 lakh commuters daily. The annual cost to the exchequer is expected to reach ₹1,942 crore. To meet increased demand, the State will procure 3,000 electric buses this year, with 1,400 more over two years. Safety upgrades include body cams for female conductors and CCTV cameras on buses, along with improved bus station facilities,' he said. Mr. Parthasarathy said, in a major boost to the traditional weaving sector, the Cabinet approved a comprehensive ₹648.59 crore relief package. 'The measures include free electricity (200 units for manual looms and 500 units for power looms), 5% GST reimbursement, and revival of the Thrift Fund Scheme, wherein the government matches 8% of a weaver's savings. Additionally, ₹5 crore has been allocated for 2025–26, and pending dues of ₹17.17 crore from 2017 onwards will be cleared,' the Minister said. Further, the Cabinet approved 150–200 units of free electricity for 40,808 hair-cutting saloons, both AC and non-AC, imposing an estimated ₹100 crore annual burden on the State. In other decisions, the Cabinet approved the formulation of a Social Media Policy and extended the ban on the CPI (Maoist) and its affiliated organisations such as RYL, RSU, SIKASA, and RDF until August 2026, under the Public Security Act.
