To be launched from August 15

1. Andhra Pradesh has a female population of around 2.62 crore
2. Women account for 43.06 crore annual bus rides
3. With the scheme in place, this number could rise to 88.90 crore trips annually
4. Free bus travel for women is currently offered in Delhi, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Telangana
5. Andhra Pradesh secured 750 electric buses under the Urban Transport Scheme for its 11 municipal corporations

The Andhra Pradesh government is set to launch free bus travel scheme for women starting August 15. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, during a high-level review meeting with RTC and transport department officials at his Undavalli camp office on Saturday, gave crucial directives to ensure the scheme's seamless rollout.

To cope with the anticipated surge in passenger volume, especially in Pallevelugu and city bus services, the CM instructed officials to augment the existing fleet. This may involve the purchase of new buses or hiring vehicles if needed. Officials have projected that an additional 2,045 buses would be required, pushing the estimated cost to Rs.996 crore.

The Chief Minister also mandated that all new RTC buses should be electric air-conditioned (EV AC) models. He called for a comprehensive study on converting existing diesel buses to electric and emphasized the installation of GPS trackers on every bus to improve operational oversight.

Naidu also encouraged the exploration of battery-swapping technologies to lower operating costs. He requested a cost-benefit analysis comparing diesel, EV, CNG, and battery-swap systems, including options for public-private partnerships in operating and servicing buses. “Examine the viability of APSRTC generating its own power and using it to run the EV fleet. We must minimize maintenance costs and enhance long-term efficiency,” the CM noted.