Andhra Pradesh is set to launch a new scheme on August 15, offering free bus travel to women and transgender citizens across the state. This significant move, named ‘Stree Shakti’, aims to empower beneficiaries by easing their travel costs and boosting their access to education, employment. social opportunities. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu will formally launch the program in Vijayawada, fulfilling a key election promise. The initiative allows free travel on five categories of Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) buses, with officials working to ensure a smooth rollout by upgrading ticketing systems and training staff.
A New Step for Citizens
The Andhra Pradesh government has announced a new plan to make travel easier and free for many people across the state. This plan will let girls, women. transgender people travel without paying on state-run buses. The government issued an official order, G. O. Ms. No. 27, for this new travel program on August 11, 2025. This step is a part of the government’s promise to help its citizens.
Understanding the Free Travel Plan
The new free bus travel plan is called ‘Stree Shakti’, which means ‘Woman Power’. It will start on August 15, 2025, a day when India celebrates its independence. This timing shows the importance the government places on this new effort. The plan covers specific types of buses run by the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC). The free travel will be available on:
- Pallevelugu buses
- Ultra Pallevelugu buses
- City Ordinary buses
- Metro Express buses
- Express services
But, some bus services are not part of this free travel plan. These include non-stop buses, buses that go to other states, special hired buses, tour packages. all air-conditioned buses. The plan will also not apply to buses on steep hill roads in the beginning.
Who Can Use This Service
The ‘Stree Shakti’ plan is for all girls, women. transgender people who live permanently in Andhra Pradesh. To use the free travel, people must show a valid identity card. This card needs to prove they live in Andhra Pradesh. Common identity cards that can be used are:
- Aadhaar card
- Voter ID card
- Ration Card
- Driving License
For now, these cards will work. The APSRTC plans to give out special smart cards later, which will become the main way to get free travel. When a person gets on the bus, they will be given a ticket that shows a zero fare. The government will later pay the bus company for all these free tickets.
Why This Plan Is crucial
This free travel plan is a big promise made by the current government during the recent elections. The main aim is to help women and transgender people have more power in their lives. By removing travel costs, the government hopes to make it easier for them to go to school, find jobs. take part in social activities. This will make public transport available to more people.
According to official statements, the plan is expected to help around 2. 62 crore women in the state. It is also thought that about 26. 95 lakh people will use this free travel every day.
The government expects that families could save a lot of money. For example, a working woman who travels daily by bus might save between ₹1,000 and ₹3,000 each month. This money can then be used for other essential needs.
Money and Making It Work
Running this free travel service will cost the state government a large amount of money. It is estimated to be about ₹1,942 crore to ₹1,970 crore each year. This works out to around ₹162 crore every month. Even with money challenges, the government has decided to go ahead with this plan to help its citizens.
The APSRTC has prepared for the start of this plan. Out of its total of 11,449 buses, about 74 percent will be used for this free travel. The bus company is also updating its ticket machines to easily give out zero-fare tickets. Bus drivers and conductors are getting special training on how to use these new systems and how to help passengers during busy times.
Officials have said that the plan will start with the buses that are already available. If more buses are needed because many people start using the service, the government will buy more. Bus depot managers and traffic officers have been told to watch how many people are travelling and add more bus services if needed.
Making Travel Better and Safer
The government is also thinking about how to make bus travel safer and more comfortable for everyone. There are plans to give body cameras to bus staff and put CCTV cameras inside all buses.
Bus stations will also get better facilities. This includes:
- More fans
- Better chairs for sitting
- Clean drinking water
- Improved toilets
There are also talks about adding electric buses to the fleet in the future, if the government approves it.
Voices on the New Plan
Many people involved in the government have spoken about this new plan.
“With women forming about 50% of our population, this programme ensures equal opportunities and supports their progress in every field,” said Kolusu Parthasarathi, the State data, Public Relations. Housing Minister.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has stressed that the plan needs to be put into action properly and that officials should get feedback from passengers in the early days. He also asked for bus station repairs, costing ₹30 crore, to be finished by December to make travel better.
Kantilal Dande, the Principal Secretary for Transport, Roads & Buildings, issued the official order for the plan. Transport Minister Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy shared that the plan is a fulfillment of one of the government’s major election promises. APSRTC Chairman Konakalla Narayana and Managing Director Dwaraka Tirumala Rao have mentioned that the number of women travelling daily on RTC buses is expected to increase significantly after the free travel plan starts. They noted that bus parts are being checked and improved to handle more passengers.
While the scheme has been welcomed by many, some opposition voices have called it a “restrictive scheme.” But, the government stands firm on its commitment to providing economic relief to women. This move is seen as a way to make daily travel for work, education, or personal needs safer, easier. more available to women and transgender people. 
