Thiruvananthapuram | Kerala Transport Minister C P John on Wednesday said the state's Priyadarshini free travel scheme for women has received an overwhelming response, with women accounting for 64 per cent of passengers in KSRTC ordinary services within days of its launch.
Addressing a press conference here, the minister said the number of women travelling in KSRTC ordinary buses has risen sharply since the UDF government's flagship scheme came into effect on Monday, indicating growing acceptance of public transport among women.
Under the Priyadarshini scheme, women can travel free of cost in KSRTC ordinary services, a key polls promise of the Congress-led UDF.
According to official figures, the number of women passengers in ordinary services increased from 7.25 lakh on June 8 to 9.63 lakh on June 15 and further to 11.84 lakh on June 16.
"On June 16 alone, women constituted 64 per cent of the total passengers in ordinary services. In other words, nearly two out of every three passengers were women," John said.
Compared to the previous day, an additional 2.21 lakh women travelled in ordinary buses on June 16, marking a 23 per cent increase, he said.
The minister said awareness about the scheme has spread rapidly across the state, prompting women who earlier purchased tickets to switch to the free travel facility. As many as 11.80 lakh women availed free travel under the scheme on June 16, he added.
John said the total number of passengers in KSRTC ordinary services rose from 14.40 lakh on June 8 to 18.56 lakh on June 16. Compared to June 9, passenger traffic in ordinary services registered a growth of 37.8 per cent.
Across all categories of KSRTC services, the total passenger count touched 25.53 lakh on June 16, representing a 25.8 per cent increase over the corresponding period last week, he said.
"The Priyadarshini scheme is gaining wider acceptance every day. Lakhs of women have entered the public transport system and more passengers are choosing KSRTC buses," the minister said.
Rejecting allegations that ordinary buses were being converted into city fast services to limit the benefits of the scheme, John said not a single ordinary bus had been upgraded as a city fast bus.
"In Thiruvananthapuram, where 384 city fast buses are operating, no ordinary service has been converted. In fact, two city fast services -- Pozhiyoor-Anchuthengu and Pappanamcode-Vikas Bhavan routes -- have been converted into ordinary services for the convenience of passengers," he said.
The minister also clarified that women eligible for free travel would not be allowed to purchase tickets in ordinary services, saying the practice would create operational difficulties.
John further said efforts were underway to enhance non-ticket revenue streams to improve the KSRTC's financial position.
Chief Minister V D Satheesan launched the much-awaited free travel scheme for women in KSRTC buses on Monday.
