Hyderabad
The free bus travel scheme under the Mahalakshmi initiative has helped women in Telangana save ₹6,680 crore since its launch in December 2023, said Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka. Speaking at the Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station in Hyderabad, he noted that over 200 crore free tickets have been issued so far, boosting both savings for women and profits for the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC).
He said the Congress-led government regularly reimburses TSRTC and has strengthened its operations, raising bus occupancy from 67% to 97%. The daily passenger count has increased from 45 lakh to 65 lakh.
As part of modernization efforts, TGSRTC has added 2,400 new buses and placed orders for 3,500 electric buses to replace diesel ones in Hyderabad. Additionally, the government is investing ₹20,000 crore in road construction and repairs.
To further empower women, the state is offering interest-free loans to self-help groups to buy buses and lease them to TSRTC. This initiative aims to financially strengthen one crore women. In the first year alone, loans worth ₹21,650 crore were disbursed, surpassing the target.
Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar said the scheme is opening up opportunities for women from rural and remote areas to access education, jobs, healthcare, and entrepreneurial ventures in cities. He added that the previous government ignored RTC’s needs, while the current administration is focused on improving public transport and employee welfare.
The Mahalakshmi scheme, a key Congress election promise, is now transforming lives and public transport in Telangana.
