Latest news with #UltraPalleVelugu
Hans India
37 minutes ago
- Politics
- Hans India
YSRCP terms free bus scheme as fraud
Guntur: The coalition government's free bus scheme is a blatant scam, ruthlessly deceiving women under the guise of free travel, said YSRCP state official spokesperson Putha Siva Shankar Reddy. During a media interaction at the party's central office in Tadepalli on Monday, he lambasted the GO's restrictive conditions, which starkly contradict pre-election promises by leaders like Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, and Minister for HRD Nara Lokesh, who vowed seamless, cost-free journeys across the state, including to pilgrimage sites. 'With limitations to only five bus types—Palle Velugu, Ultra Palle Velugu, City Ordinary, Express, and Metro Express, excluding non-stop, inter-state, Saptagiri Express, Ultra Deluxe, Super Luxury, Star Liner, and all AC services, how can women feasibly visit sacred places like Tirumala without endless bus changes and days of travel,' Reddy questioned, highlighting the scheme's impracticality for long-distance or inter-district routes.
The Hindu
12 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
YSRCP slams free bus scheme as ‘fraud on women'
VIJAYAWADA: The coalition government's so-called free bus travel scheme is nothing more than a ''blatant scam designed to deceive women'', alleged YSRCP State official spokesperson Putha Siva Shankar Reddy. At a press meet at the party's central office at Tadepalli near here on Monday, he accused the government of imposing ''conditions that run counter to the pre-poll promises made by Chandrababu Naidu, Pawan Kalyan, and Nara Lokesh who had assured women of seamless, cost-free journeys across Andhra Pradesh, including to pilgrimage destinations''. Mr. Reddy said the scheme covers only five bus categories — Palle Velugu, Ultra Palle Velugu, City Ordinary, Express, and Metro Express — while excluding non-stop, inter-State services, Saptagiri Express, Ultra Deluxe, Super Luxury, Star Liner, and all AC buses. 'With such limitations, how can women visit Tirumala without multiple bus changes and days of travel?' he asked, adding that the plan is impractical for long-distance and inter-district journeys. Despite having 15 months to prepare, the scheme falls short of successful models in Karnataka and Telangana, Reddy said, calling it evidence of the government's incompetence and intent to 'cheat women rather than empower them.' He challenged Transport Minister Ramprasad Reddy to explain 'how many bus changes and days it would take to travel from Srikakulam to Tirupati under these rules.' He criticised the government for ''targeting the Sakshi media group for exposing'', what he called, 'this fraud.' Mr. Reddy urged women to recognise the betrayal, warning that 'true welfare means unrestricted access, not hollow promises crafted to fail.'
Hans India
05-08-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Free bus travel for women, transgenders from Aug 15
Vijayawada: The state government's 'Super Six' guarantee of free bus travel for women will be implemented starting August 15, announced transport minister Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy. Speaking to the press on Monday at the Secretariat, the minister said that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to ensure a flawless implementation of the scheme. He revealed that a team of three ministers had visited Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana to study how these states have implemented similar schemes. A comprehensive report from this team has been submitted to the government. The minister confirmed that the scheme is set to be approved in the upcoming cabinet meeting on August 6. Referring to the scheme details that the minister said that all women and transgender individuals from the state of Andhra Pradesh are eligible for free travel. The scheme will cover travel on Palle Velugu, Ultra Palle Velugu, City Ordinary, Express, and Metro Express buses. Passengers will be required to show an Aadhaar card, voter ID card, or ration card as proof of identity. The scheme will be implemented on 74 per cent of the state's buses, which amounts to approximately 6,700 vehicles. The minister stated that the estimated annual expenditure for the scheme is around Rs 1,950 crore. He also announced plans to procure an additional 3,000 electric buses this year, with another 1,400 to be added over the next two years. To meet the increased demand, the government will also recruit more drivers and mechanics.
The Hindu
29-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
75% of APSRTC fleet to be used for free bus travel scheme, says Minister
Minister for Transport Mandipalli Ramprasad on Tuesday (July 29, 2025) said that arrangements are underway for the launch of free bus travel for State women on August 15. Speaking to the media, the Minister said that almost 75% of the fleet of over 11,000 buses available in the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) would be utilised for implementation of the scheme in an effective way. These categories of buses include Palle Velugu, Ultra Palle Velugu, Luxury buses and Metro or City Service buses. 'Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is very particular that there should be no hurdles once the scheme comes into effect and keeping that in mind, we are trying to procure new buses,' he said, adding that nearly 1,400 electric buses will be added to the APSRTC fleet soon. The Minister held a review meeting with the APSRTC officials in the Rayalaseema districts to take stock of the situation in view of the proposed launch of the scheme. He said that of all the initiatives launched under 'Super Six' programme, the free bus travel scheme would have maximum number of beneficiaries. He said efforts were on to finalise an attractive name for the scheme. Referring to the accusations of Opposition leaders that the scheme would leave auto-rickshaw drivers high and dry in the State, the Minister said that the government would soon announce a welfare initiative for auto drivers, considering that the scheme may impact their livelihood. The Minister pointed out that to ensure smooth launch and continuation of the scheme in the State, a group of Ministers had visited the neighbouring States of Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka where the scheme is already being implemented. 'After studying the bottlenecks, we are now trying to make the scheme a smooth affair in Andhra Pradesh,' he said. The APSRTC Vice-Chairman and Managing Director Ch. Dwaraka Tirumala Rao, meanwhile, is visiting various depots across the APSRTC zones to review facilities. He said all the bus stands were being painted and focus was on ensuring proper seating arrangements, adequate number of fans and drinking water supply for the population using these bus stations.
