Fulfilling a key election promise, the Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has launched the "Sthree Shakti" scheme, allowing free travel for women in the State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) buses.
Coinciding with the Independence Day celebrations, Naidu launched the scheme at PN Bus Station, Vijayawada, in the presence of the National Democratic Alliance coalition partners from the Bharatiya Janata Party and Jana Sena, apart from the Telugu Desam Party leaders.
The scheme allows free travel for women in five categories of buses across the state like "Pallevelugu", "Ultra Pallevelugu", "City Ordinary", "Express", and "Metro Express". The Transport Department and APSRTC have made all necessary arrangements, including the software support to issue zero-fare tickets to women passengers.
Around 2.62 crore women in the state will benefit from this scheme. Out of the total 11,449 buses under APSRTC, 74 per cent will be open for free travel for women. The government has also extended the scheme’s benefit to transgender persons. The 'Sthree Shakti' scheme will help women save significantly on travel costs. The official estimates show that women travel, on average, four times a week by bus, while working women travel daily.
This costs each woman approximately ₹1,000 to ₹3,000 per month. The scheme will cost the state government approximately ₹1,942 crore annually, which will be reimbursed to the APSRTC.
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Speaking on the occasion, the IT minister and Chief Minister’s son Nara Lokesh said women were leading the way in all spheres of life. He said it was late NT Rama Rao, the TDP founder and former chief minister of the united Andhra Pradesh, who was credited with establishing a special university for women and now Chandrababu Naidu is taking measures to empower women and encourage them in all spheres. Many government schemes are being implemented in the name of women in Andhra Pradesh, he said.
"If women are given the opportunity, they can create miracles. Women are also excelling in business even in my family, my mother Bhuvaneswari and my wife Brahmani are successful entrepreneurs. Everyone must condemn comments that demean women. There should be no obscene remarks about women in films or web series. A special law should be brought in to curb obscene comments against women. All women are happy about the 'Sthree Shakti' free bus travel scheme. This will reduce the monthly financial burden of each woman by ₹1,500,” Lokesh said.
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