kiranmai tutika I amaravati

More than 12 lakh women availed the free bus travel facility within the first 30 hours itself. The women in Andhra Pradesh have taken to the free bus rides with earnestness. A ground-level observation on a Palle Velugu bus journey from Pandit Nehru RTC Bus Station to Guntur on Monday morning was packed, nearly 75 per cent of the seats were occupied by women passengers. The numbers reflect the massive impact of the scheme within days of its rollout.

Many praised the initiative. Sravani, a resident of Velagaleru village, the scheme has provided much-needed relief. Accompanying her husband Ramesh to a hospital in Tadepalli, she expressed gratitude for the initiative. “This scheme is a blessing for women like me. It has not only helped me bring my husband for treatment without worrying about travel expenses, but also eased the burden on many women from my village who commute daily to Vijayawada for work,” she said, noting that over 50 women from Velagaleru are benefitting.

For students, the scheme is equally significant. Lasya, an engineering student from Kondapalli studying at Acharya Nagarjuna University, shared her excitement. “I used to spend Rs.1,140 per month on a bus route pass. Now I can save that amount and focus better on my studies. Hundreds of girl students from my village are benefitting in the same way,” she said with relief.

Mary, another passenger on the Vijayawada-Guntur route, echoed similar sentiments. Holding her Aadhaar card and a zero-fare ticket, she described the scheme as “a gift to poor and middle-class women,” enabling them to travel with confidence and dignity.