Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday said Stree Shakti, the free bus-service scheme for women, has been a grand success with the cooperation of women.
The chief minister reviewed the functioning of the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) at the secretariat and enquired about how Stree Shakti is faring and the occupancy rate in buses.
“With the cooperation of women, the Stree Shakti scheme is a grand success,” Naidu was quoted as saying in an official press release.
Advising officials to make the scheme more visible, Naidu said boards be installed in the front and rear of all 8,458 buses that ply under Stree Shakti. He reviewed preparations for a live route tracking system, enabling women to plan their travel more conveniently.
Reviewing APSRTC operations at the state secretariat, the CM enquired about the progress of the scheme, occupancy ratios and passenger response.
RTC officials informed him that the occupancy levels in buses have risen significantly, from 68-70 per cent earlier to nearly 100 per cent in several depots. Buses across all 13 districts were now reporting full occupancy.
Officials said that despite the free bus travel, incidents of overcrowding or disputes over seating have been minimal. “Women are utilizing the facility only when necessary.” RTC managing director Dwaraka Tirumala Rao said women have been choosing to travel only to meet their essential needs.
Praising the state’s women for their discipline, Naidu remarked, “Women in AP are highly conscious. Whatever scheme the government introduces, it makes the best use of it. From DWCRA groups fostering self-reliance to free travel today, every initiative has led to empowerment. Earlier, we encouraged girls’ education by providing bicycles. Now we have extended free bus travel to female students and women.”
The CM said that though the scheme has created a financial burden on the state, the government stood by its promise to women. Naidu directed officials to install boards in the front and rear of all 8,458 buses that ply under Sthree Shakti.
Live route tracking: He also reviewed preparations for a live route tracking system, enabling women to plan their travel more conveniently. Officials informed the CM that live tracking would first be launched as a pilot project in the Guntur depot within two to three days, and then expanded to the entire state. “Once live tracking is in place, women can check bus timings and accordingly adjust their schedules, adding further comfort to their travel,” Naidu said.
The chief minister was also briefed on articulated e-buses, projected as a “middle-level transport system” between regular buses and metro rail. RTC officials revealed a striking shift in passenger demographics.
“Earlier, 40 per cent of bus commuters were women and 60 per cent were men. Today, with Stree Shakti, nearly 65 per cent of passengers are women, while men account for only 35 per cent,” they stated. Naidu reiterated that the success of the scheme was possible only due to women’s cooperation.
