The Chandrababu Naidu Government launched the Free Bus Scheme for Women on August 15. The move aims to boost women’s participation in public life and promote equality across society.
This scheme eases the financial pressure on women and their families, especially those with limited income. The savings help them manage their households better and build some financial cushion.
Women who travel to work or school by bus now save both money and time. For families from lower-income groups, free bus travel and mid-day meals can encourage more girls to continue their education.
However, many people are concerned about the growing freebie culture and its effect on the public transport system. The RTC is already struggling financially, and even two months after the rollout, the government has not decided how much to compensate the corporation.
Earlier, the occupancy ratio of buses was around 67-68 percent. After the scheme began, it jumped to 90-91 percent on average. Before, 60 percent of passengers were men and 40 percent were women. Now, women make up 63 percent of passengers, and men just 37 percent.
While women receive zero tickets, their daily travel value adds up to around ₹8-9 crores. That means the subsidy reaches ₹250-260 crores each month. The RTC, which usually pays 25 percent of its revenue about ₹125 crores to the government, has stopped payments since the scheme began. It now expects another ₹70-80 crores per month in support.
The Finance Department says it will pay based on the old 40 percent women occupancy rate. The RTC argues that this isn’t enough since higher occupancy leads to lower mileage, greater fuel costs, and more maintenance.
Every developed country invests heavily in public transport. In India, it remains largely neglected. The government needs to resolve this issue soon, as the current deadlock could hurt both the RTC and the credibility of the Free Bus Scheme.
