Thiruvananthapuram | Kerala Cultural Affairs Minister P C Vishnunadh on Thursday said the Priyadarshini scheme would significantly enhance women's mobility in the state.
The scheme offers free travel for women on KSRTC ordinary buses and is expected to strengthen their economic independence by reducing travel expenses.
Speaking to reporters, Vishnunadh said a study assessing the social impact of the scheme would be conducted, and its findings would be made available one month after its implementation.
Free travel for women on Kerala State Road Transport Corporation buses was one of the key election guarantees of the UDF.
In the first phase of the project, free travel for women on KSRTC ordinary buses will be implemented from June 15.
"We will assess the social impact of the project one month after its implementation. The study will examine factors such as increased mobility among women. This should not be viewed lightly," he said.
The minister said the savings in travel expenses would make a significant difference for financially disadvantaged women and their families.
"It is a revolutionary initiative with far-reaching social impact that will contribute to women's empowerment in the state," he said.
Asked whether the government would introduce new services in areas where KSRTC operations are limited, Vishnunadh said that in some Assembly constituencies, not even a single KSRTC ordinary bus service was operating.
He alleged that many KSRTC services that operated during the 2011–16 UDF government, led by former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, were discontinued during the LDF government's tenure.
"We are identifying areas where KSRTC operations are minimal. New services will be introduced in such places so that people there can also benefit from the scheme," he said.
Responding to criticism from LDF leaders that the government had not implemented free travel across all categories of KSRTC buses as promised during the election campaign, Vishnunadh said such criticism would only further weaken the opposition following its poor performance in the Assembly election.
He also noted that the LDF had not yet been able to decide on its deputy opposition leader even after the Assembly session had commenced.
Vishnunadh said the LDF had repeatedly claimed during the election campaign that the UDF's guarantees could not be implemented.
"We announced five guarantees to be implemented over the course of our five-year term. In 2021, the LDF promised an increase in social welfare pensions but implemented it only in 2025, ahead of the local body elections. We have begun implementing our guarantees by providing free travel on ordinary buses, and we will move on to the remaining phases in due course," he said.
He added that women travelling on KSRTC ordinary buses would be issued zero-fare tickets and that the state government would compensate KSRTC for the revenue loss incurred under the scheme.
Responding to criticism from Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama that the state government had hesitated to criticise the Centre in the Assembly and in the White Paper on Kerala's financial condition, Vishnunadh said the UDF had not adopted any such position.
"The White Paper was intended to present the state's financial condition and was not meant to address political issues. We will articulate our political position at the appropriate forum. We did not criticise the CPI(M) in the White Paper either," he said.
