Mahalakshmi' scheme: Women passengers save Rs 10,000 cr on travel exp

Hyderabad: The Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) on Sunday announced that it issued over 290 crore 'zero tickets' under the 'Mahalakshmi' scheme (free bus travel for women), which enabled women passengers save Rs 10,000 crore towards travel expenditure.

The 'Mahalakshmi' scheme under which women can travel free of cost in the state-run Road Transport Corporation (RTC) buses was launched on December 9, 2023.

"Under the 'Mahalakshmi' scheme 290 crore 'zero tickets' were issued to women travellers across Telangana," TGSRTC Vice Chairman and Manging Director Y Nagi Reddy said in a release.

Earlier, women, who used to spend an average of Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,500 per month on transport fares, are now saving that amount, and that the total savings across the state has reached Rs 10,000 crore, Reddy said.

After the implementation of the scheme, the share of women passengers on RTC buses rose to over 67 percent from 40 per cent earlier, and an average of more than 35 lakh women are reaching their destinations safely every day, the official said.

The state government has been reimbursing the RTC for the Zero Ticket scheme.