Latest news with #RamprasadReddy
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Report on free bus travel for women to be placed before Andhra Cabinet tomorrow
VIJAYAWADA: Transport, Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy on Monday announced that elaborate arrangements are underway to launch the free bus travel scheme for women from August 15. The ministerial committee, which was constituted to study similar schemes in other states, has submitted its report to the government. A final decision will be made during the Cabinet meeting scheduled for August 6. Addressing the media at the Secretariat, Ramprasad Reddy said the scheme was among the key promises made by the TDP-led NDA coalition under its 'Super Six' guarantees. He added that Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu had directed him and APSRTC officials to ensure the scheme is implemented without lapses. Under the scheme, women and transgender individuals will be allowed to travel for free in services such as Pallevelugu, Ultra Pallevelugu, City Ordinary, Express, and Metro Express buses, covering about 74 per cent of the APSRTC fleet. Passengers must carry valid ID proof such as Aadhaar, Voter ID and a ration card or any other issued by the State and the Union governments. Once implemented, about 6,700 buses will be operated under the scheme, which is expected to cost around `1,950 crore annually for the APSRTC. The minister also said the government has taken steps to procure 3,000 electric buses this year, with another 1,400 to be added over the next two years. Recruitment of drivers and mechanics will also be undertaken to meet growing demand.
The Hindu
7 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Free bus travel for women and transgender persons across Andhra Pradesh from August 15
Fulfilling one of the 'Super Six' election promises, the Andhra Pradesh government will roll out a free bus travel scheme for women and transgender persons from August 15, State Transport, Youth, and Sports Minister Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy announced on Monday. Addressing a press conference at the Secretariat, the Minister said the Cabinet is expected to give formal approval to the scheme at its meeting on August 6. Under the initiative, women and transgender individuals residing in Andhra Pradesh will be able to travel free of cost on Palle Velugu, Ultra Palle Velugu, City Ordinary, Express, and Metro Express buses across the State. Beneficiaries must produce valid identification such as an Aadhaar card, Voter ID, or Ration Card to avail of the benefit. Mr. Ramprasad Reddy said Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had instructed officials to ensure flawless and transparent implementation of the scheme. To that end, a group of three Ministers studied similar schemes in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana before finalising Andhra Pradesh's model. The scheme will cover 6,700 buses—roughly 74% of the State's fleet—and is expected to cost the exchequer around ₹1,950 crore annually. The government is also in the process of procuring 3,000 electric buses this year, with plans to add another 1,400 over the next two years. Additional drivers and mechanics will be recruited to handle the anticipated rise in demand, the Minister added.
The Hindu
02-08-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Annadata Sukhibhava: ₹138.16 crore disbursed to 2.05 lakh farmers in Chittoor
Minister for Transport and Chittoor district in-charge Minister, Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy, on Saturday, launched the first phase of the Annadata Sukhibhava scheme in Rompicharla mandal headquarters and disbursed ₹138.16 crore to 2.05 lakh farmers. The benefits were credited directly to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries. Addressing a gathering of farmers, Mr. Ramprasad Reddy said that the scheme was implemented as a part of the 'Super Six' promises made in the run-up to the 2024 elections. 'The scheme aims at bringing direct financial relief to farmers during the khariff,' he said while reiterating the commitment of the government to bolstering the agrarian economy of the State. Each farmer will get ₹7,000 in the first instalment, while the remaining two instalments would be credited to the farmers' accounts in October and January. Chittoor Collector Sumit Kumar said that the scheme was being implemented with transparency, covering farmers and tenant farmers. He assured that the subsidy of ₹135 crore would be credited to the accounts of mango farmers who supplied Totapuri stocks to the pulp industries.
The Hindu
15-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Stakeholders want State as a unit, not district, for implementation of free bus ride for women in Andhra Pradesh
As the Government of Andhra Pradesh prepares to launch another Super Six scheme of free bus travel for women in the State on August 15, deliberations are in progress over the exact mode of implementation. While Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has indicated that the district will be considered as a unit for implementing the scheme, key stakeholders, including officials of the A.P. State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC), have expressed concern over the feasibility of the model. According to sources in the Transport Department, implementation of the scheme at the district level may lead to operational difficulties, besides complications in route monitoring and enforcement of eligibility across inter-district services. A more unified State-wide implementation, the officials feel, will ensure smoother coordination and reduce the risk of misuse, or logistical bottlenecks. 'Restriction on travel within districts will lead to confusion for women who need to travel across district borders. A uniform policy at the State level will be more inclusive and manageable,' says a senior APSRTC official. 'A final call on the issue will be taken after the Chief Minister returns from Delhi,' says Transport Minister M. Ramprasad Reddy. Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Ramprasad Reddy said the government was in the process of procuring 2,000 new buses to augment the existing fleet and support the anticipated surge in passengers once the scheme was launched. 'While the buses may not arrive in time for the rollout, they will be inducted into the fleet in a phased manner,' the Minister said. Currently, women commuters comprise 35% of the Occupancy Ratio (OR) in the APSRTC buses as against 65% men. 'After rolling out the scheme, the number of women passengers may rise to 65% of the OR,' said the Minister. From a financial standpoint, the Minister said it would be an annual expenditure of ₹2,000 crore, which was significantly lower than other schemes under the government's Super Six promises. Mr. Ramprasad Reddy said the new buses would be operated under the Gross Cost Contract (GCC) model, a framework where private operators supply and maintain buses, while the APSRTC would manage operations and collect revenue. Union fears loss of jobs However, the GCC model is being opposed by the A.P. Public Transport Department Employees' Unions, whihc fear losing jobs in the future. They have been insisting that the APSRTC operate and maintain the new buses proposed to be included in the fleet. 'Already, 25% of the buses in the fleet are being operated by private firms. This is a growing concern among the workers in the public transport organisation,' said union State president P. Damodar Rao. He said the existing 11,500 buses in the fleet and 46,000 staff were needed to be augmented before the launch of the scheme. 'The corporation already relies on over 5,000 on-call drivers for its day-to-day operations,' he said, indicating the extent of staff crunch.
The Hindu
12-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Andhra Pradesh government committed to implementing ‘Super Six' welfare schemes, say Ministers
The 'Suparipalanalo Tholi Adugu' (First Step Towards Good Governance) campaign received an enthusiastic response from rural communities in the Gangadhara Nellore Assembly constituency. Minister for Transport Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy and Minister for Power Gottipati Ravikumar led a door-to-door outreach, engaging directly with villagers to explain the State government's flagship initiatives. Addressing the media at Gangadhara Nellore on Saturday, Mr. Ramprasad Reddy said the Chief Minister remained committed to implementing the promised 'Super Six' welfare schemes. Marking one year of the coalition government, he said efforts were underway to ensure that all eligible beneficiaries received their entitlements without delay. Mango farmers Citing farmer-friendly interventions, Mr. Ramprasad Reddy highlighted a substantial increase in Totapuri mango production—from 2.5 lakh metric tonnes in 2024 to over 7 lakh metric tonnes this year. He said the State government had mandated pulp processing industries to pay ₹8 per kg to farmers, and an additional ₹4 per kg would be directly credited to farmers' bank accounts as a subsidy. Infrastructure development Mr. Ravikumar said the government was prioritising infrastructure development, particularly in the power sector. He announced that proposals to establish three new 33/11 KV substations at Balaganganapalli, Gadanki, and Ramachenupalli in the district would be fast-tracked to strengthen the rural power supply network.
