The Mahalakshmi Free Bus Scheme introduced by the Telangana government is gaining significant attention, particularly from women who make up about 70% of the passengers.
Despite the positive response, challenges have emerged, with reports of some women misusing the free travel privilege. Instances of disputes over seats, even escalating to physical fights, like one in Bhadrachalam where two women pulled each other’s hair.
The buses have become quite crowded, and men who have paid for tickets find themselves standing because women are occupying their seats. Some men are urging the government to address this by providing special seats or increasing the number of buses.
Over the past 11 days, the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) reported that around 3 crore women passengers have taken the bus. Out of the daily 51 lakh passengers, 30 lakh were women, accounting for 62% of the total.
Since the introduction of the Mahalakshmi Scheme and zero-fare tickets, the occupancy rate has surged from 69% to 88%, with several depots recording over 100% occupancy.
