Kerala Transport Minister C.P. John lauded the success of the Priyadarshini scheme, offering free bus travel to women and transgender individuals on KSRTC ordinary services. The scheme has notably increased passengers on Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses, with 3.81 crore free journeys recorded in the first month alone. Women now make up 66% of all passengers on KSRTC buses, marking a substantial shift.
The scheme’s impact is evident in the data collected through the corporation’s Electronic Ticket Machines (ETMs). Daily women passengers on ordinary services have surged from 6.48 lakh to 12.12 lakh, an 87% rise. The overall daily passenger count, including both ordinary and super-class services, has grown from 19.03 lakh to 24.53 lakh, a 28.9% increase in ridership. This growth signifies a new demand for public transport rather than a mere shift in existing passengers.
While women passengers have increased significantly, male passengers on ordinary services have remained stable. KSRTC has efficiently managed the additional passengers within its current operational framework. Despite a revenue loss of approximately Rs 60 crore, the state government, under Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan’s leadership, is promptly releasing funds for the scheme’s implementation. Plans to extend the Priyadarshini scheme to Express and Fast Passenger services are under consideration for the future.
Transport Minister John highlighted the scheme’s broader impact, emphasizing its role in empowering women’s mobility and economic engagement in Kerala. The public’s growing trust in public transport is evident as over 5.5 lakh additional passengers now choose KSRTC buses daily. To address operational constraints, the government is exploring innovative solutions, such as proposing MLAs to allocate funds for new KSRTC buses. While expansion to other services is desired, current limitations hinder immediate implementation.
