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United News of India
23-07-2025
- Business
- United News of India
Telangana celebrates 200 crore free rides under Maha Lakshmi scheme
Hyderabad, July 23 (UNI) In a major milestone for Telangana's flagship Maha Lakshmi free travel scheme, the state government today celebrated 200 crore free bus journeys made by women in RTC buses, resulting in an estimated Rs 6,680 crore in savings for passengers. Special programmes and public meetings were held at 97 RTC depots and 341 bus stations across Telangana to mark the achievement. In Hyderabad, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka participated in the celebrations held at MGBS, with Ministers Ponnam Prabhakar and Komatireddy Venkata Reddy also in attendance. Speaking at the event, Deputy CM Vikramarka said the RTC had turned a corner since the launch of the Maha Lakshmi scheme on December 9, 2023, coinciding with the formation of the new government. 'Earlier, RTC was called a sinking boat. Today, it is a profit-making government institution,' he said. The state has so far paid Rs 6,680 crore to RTC to cover the fare for 200 crore women passengers. The Deputy CM added that the scheme has not only empowered women through free travel but has also boosted RTC's operations. 'Prior to the scheme, RTC's occupancy ratio stood at 62 per cent. Today, it has surged to 97 per cent. Daily passenger numbers have increased from 45 lakh to 65 lakh.' Highlighting efforts to make Hyderabad a pollution-free city, Vikramarka announced that RTC is transitioning its fleet to electric vehicles. Orders have been placed for 3,000 electric buses, and 11 per cent of these have already been delivered. The goal is to replace 2,800 buses in Hyderabad with electric ones. Since the scheme's launch, the government has purchased 2,400 new buses and introduced new policies through the Transport Department. Further empowering women, the government has enabled women's associations to own RTC buses through interest-free loans. 'We recently handed over cheques of Rs 1 crore each to women's groups who now own RTC buses. Petrol stations are also being set up by them,' he said. Minister Ponnam Prabhakar recalled the official launch of the scheme in the Legislative Assembly and congratulated women on completing 200 crore free journeys. He credited the dedication of RTC drivers and conductors for the successful implementation of the programme. Minister Komatireddy Venkata Reddy noted that the scheme was rolled out within two days of the government assuming office. He said, 'Women are now travelling freely wherever they wish, thanks to this revolutionary scheme. We are also investing heavily in road infrastructure to improve connectivity.' He added that starting next month, the government will begin work on double-lane roads from villages to mandal and district centres, as part of a Rs 20,000 crore road development plan aimed at transforming transportation in the state. The Maha Lakshmi scheme, designed to provide free travel for women on state-run buses, is now being hailed as a social and economic game-changer for Telangana. UNI VV RKM
Hans India
26-06-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Silent solar revolution brewing in a quiet village of Nalgonda dist
Hyderabad: A quiet village is leading India's first all-women cooperative solar battery unit. Here's how a silent revolution is unfolding under the sun. In the heart of Telangana's Nalgonda district, Aitipamula village is now making national headlines — not for protests or problems, but for pioneering a women-led clean energy revolution. With 50 women, Rs 50 lakh in seed funding, and a vision rooted in empowerment, the Komatireddy Prateek Foundation has quietly scripted a success story that bridges rural resilience with renewable energy. The 'Swachha Shakti Off-Grid Cooperative Solar Battery Unit', launched recently in collaboration with Swabags Labs, is a first-of-its-kind initiative in India where rural women, most of them homemakers and self-help group members, are managing and benefiting from solar battery units — from the comfort of their homes. Each woman was earning Rs 2,000+ per month, credited directly to her bank account. There's no physical labour, no technical complexity, and no middlemen. The solar units installed are low-maintenance, with a battery life of over 10 years and a cycle capacity of 3,000 charges — making them both sustainable and profitable. Lakshmi, one of the beneficiaries, says she never imagined something like this would be possible in her village. 'We thought solar was for big companies and cities. Today, I have a unit under my name. I don't have to leave home, yet I get money every month. This gives me confidence and dignity,' she says, her eyes lighting up with the same energy that powers her village. Minister for Roads, Buildings & Cinematography Komatireddy Venkata Reddy — who also heads the Komatireddy Prateek Foundation — calls this initiative 'a movement of light and liberation.' He said that solar energy is not just a clean energy alternative — it's becoming the most economically viable source of power. India's solar potential is massive, and tapping it via decentralized units like these reduces transmission loss, ensures energy democracy, and opens doors to income for communities that were previously disconnected from both grids and growth.
Hans India
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Gaddar Film Jury award to Jendaguda resident
Asifabad: TheTelangana Gaddar Film Award has been awarded to senior journalist Masade Lakshmi Narayana, a resident of Jendaguda in Kumrambheem Asifabad district. Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka received the jury award from Cinematography Minister Komatireddy Venkata Reddy at the award presentation ceremony held at Hitex in Hyderabad recently. Narayana, the eldest son of Masade Bapu and Lakshmi, has been working as a journalist in Hyderabad for more than twenty years. Lakshmi Narayana, who started his career as a Hyderabad reporter in Andhra Bhoomi, later worked in 'Zee' News Hyderabad and Delhi. From the level of reporter, he rose to the level of input editor. He worked in all fields of media like crime, general, political, cinema. He served as the General Secretary of the Film Critics Association. He also served as the founder president of the Telangana Film Journalists Association. He won the election as a director of The Journalist Cooperative Housing Society, which was started in 1960 for the welfare of journalists working in Hyderabad. Speaking on the occasion, Lakshmi Narayana thanked Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka, Cinematography Minister Komatireddy Venkata Reddy, Telangana Film Development Corporation Chairman Dil Raju, and 2024 Jury Chairman Jayasudha for the award.
Hans India
22-04-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Minister Komatireddy urges for expediting ‘HAM' road construction
Hyderabad: Roads and Buildings Minister Komatireddy Venkata Reddy on Monday asked the officials to identify the roads that have not seen development for the last ten years and are causing inconvenience to the people and take up for development in Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM). The Minister, who had a review with the senior officials of the Roads and Buildings Department at the BR Ambedkar Secretariat on Monday, suggested that the work on the construction of HAM roads should be expedited. He said that the process of identifying 5,189 km of roads in Phase-1 under the HAM method was completed and asked the consultant to prepare detailed estimates as part of the next process. Later, the Minister reviewed with the senior officials of the National Highways Agency. He issued orders to the (NHAI) officials to promptly take up compensation payments to the farmers who lost their lands for the Northern part of the Regional Ring Road (RRR). He advised the officials to quickly prepare proposals for the National Highway Plan-2025-26. After Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy returns to Hyderabad after completing his foreign tour, a comprehensive review of the HAM roads would be conducted and the work will begin after the cabinet approval. He said that safe roads without potholes and connectivity between rural and urban areas are the goals of the public government.
