AP Free Bus Scheme: AP CM Chandrababu Naidu announced that the government would start a free bus service for women from August 15. Women across the state are thrilled after the Chief Minister’s announcement. However, questions arise: Will this free bus service be limited to certain districts, or will it be implemented statewide? The situation has sparked a lot of interest.

During the last assembly session, members of the council discussed the free bus service for women. At that time, YSRCP leaders criticized the coalition government. In response, ruling party members intervened and shared some details. They mentioned that the free bus scheme was part of their election promises. However, they also clarified that the procedures are not finalized yet, and it remains uncertain whether the service will be extended across the entire state.

Free Bus Scheme in Other States:
AP officials recently visited Telangana, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu to learn how the free bus scheme is being implemented in those states. They found that Karnataka and Tamil Nadu provide this service to villages and towns, while Telangana offers it statewide. The officials suggested that providing buses specifically for women would be ideal to avoid seating issues.

Four years ago, CM Chandrababu Naidu announced that free bus services would be available to women starting from August 15. In neighboring Telangana, women can travel for free regardless of the district. AP officials believe that restricting the free bus service to certain districts would harm the government’s reputation. As a result, CM Chandrababu Naidu is carefully considering how to move forward with the scheme.

Free Bus in Andhra Pradesh:
Discussions are currently underway with RTC officials regarding the implementation of free bus travel across the state. If the scheme is introduced statewide, the government expects an annual cost of Rs. 3,182 crore, which translates to around Rs. 265 crore per month. In comparison, the Telangana government currently bears a burden of up to Rs. 400 crore per month but is successfully implementing the scheme.

CM’s Plan for Economic Growth:

Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is reportedly planning to allow women to travel for free in AP and has discussed the scheme’s implementation with officials. He has urged them to explore ways of generating income through other means to offset the financial burden of the program. In AP, every bus is running at 69% occupancy, with a 35-seat bus averaging 23 passengers. Diesel and other expenses are unlikely to decrease, but officials believe that if the occupancy rate increases to 94%, RTC could become profitable.

To boost RTC’s income, officials plan to enhance facilities at bus stations and expand shopping malls. They estimate that RTC’s revenue will rise through parking and other services. Diesel costs will remain constant, regardless of the number of women traveling, so the scheme should not result in significant losses. Officials will soon prepare a report on these matters and submit it to the government. The Chandrababu Naidu government plans to fully implement the free bus facility.

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