Home Minister visits Bengaluru to study implementation of a similar scheme Government mulling over introducing smart ticketing system

We are closely studying the free bus travel scheme implemented in Karnataka, where it has been successfully run under the leadership of CM Siddaramaiah. I had the opportunity to personally thank the Karnataka Chief Minister by presenting him with a bouquet for his efforts in empowering women through this initiative vangalapudi Anitha Andhra Pradesh Home Minister

Metro India News | AMARAVATI

Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha has assured that the state government will soon fulfill its promise of providing free bus travel for women. Speaking to the media, she said that the initiative would be implemented shortly, and the process was under active study to ensure its smooth execution.

Minister Anitha, along with a delegation of state ministers, recently visited Karnataka to study the successful implementation of a similar scheme in the neighboring state.

The delegation met with Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy, and senior officials from the transport department to understand the workings of the free bus travel initiative for women.

“We are closely studying the free bus travel scheme implemented in Karnataka, where it has been successfully run under the leadership of CM Siddaramaiah. I had the opportunity to personally thank the Karnataka Chief Minister by presenting him with a bouquet for his efforts in empowering women through this initiative,” said Minister Anitha.

As part of their visit, the delegation, which also included Andhra Pradesh's Transport Minister Mandipally Ramprasad Reddy and Women & Child Welfare Minister Gummadi Sandhya Rani, inspected the Shantinagar Bus Depot in Bengaluru. Minister Anitha boarded the newly introduced buses and interacted with female passengers to gain direct feedback on the benefits and challenges of the scheme.

The Home Minister emphasized that despite financial challenges, the current government under Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is prioritizing women's empowerment. “Even with the state's fiscal deficit, women's empowerment remains a key focus for the TDP-led government.

The free bus travel initiative is a critical component of the promises made under the ‘Super Six’ scheme, and we are ensuring that there are no gaps in its implementation,” Anitha added. The ministers also discussed the smart ticketing system being employed in Karnataka to streamline bus operations.

“We have examined the smart ticketing system in detail with senior officials and discussed its potential for use in Andhra Pradesh. The PowerPoint presentations provided by Karnataka’s transport officials gave us clarity on various aspects of the scheme,” she noted.

During her visit, Minister Anitha specifically inquired about the challenges women faced in the initial days of the free bus travel scheme. She assured that the findings would be compiled into a comprehensive report and submitted to Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu soon.

“We are keen to ensure that our implementation mirrors the success seen in Karnataka, and we will take all necessary steps to avoid any shortfalls. A detailed report based on our findings will be submitted to the Chief Minister in the coming days,” Anitha concluded.