AMARAVATI: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday travelled by an APSRTC bus to mark the first anniversary of Stree Shakti, the state government’s free bus travel scheme for women, officials said.
Scheme reach and usage
The government said an average of 24 lakh women travel per day under the programme and that the scheme recorded 87 crore journeys since its launch. According to an official press release cited by PTI, the state provided a daily subsidy of ₹8.53 crore towards the scheme and spent ₹3,095 crore in its first year.
Naidu boarded the bus from the venue of the Independence Day celebrations in the greenfield capital city of Amaravati and was accompanied by beneficiaries. During the journey, the Chief Minister interacted with several women passengers, asking about their families, income and health, and explained the Sanjeevani digital health record scheme to one beneficiary, officials said.
Operational details and expansion
Stree Shakti is implemented across five categories of Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) services: Express, Ultra Pallevelugu, Pallevelugu, Metro Express and City Ordinary buses, the release said. Of the APSRTC’s total fleet of 9,978 buses, 76 per cent are being used for the scheme. The facility has also been extended to women travelling on special temple services operated by APSRTC.
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Daily women travellers | 24 lakh |
| Total journeys since launch | 87 crore |
| Daily subsidy | ₹8.53 crore |
| Expenditure in one year | ₹3,095 crore |
| APSRTC fleet | 9,978 buses |
| Fleet used for scheme | 76% |
| Female share of passengers (before → after) | 40% → 62% |
| Occupancy for covered buses | 93% |
Change in ridership and occupancy
Officials said the proportion of women among APSRTC passengers rose from 40 per cent before Stree Shakti to 62 per cent after its rollout. The number of women using buses daily increased from about 9.47 lakh to 24 lakh, and occupancy on routes covered by the scheme has risen to 93 per cent, the release added.
Eligibility and procedure
The state government has said women may travel anywhere within Andhra Pradesh on APSRTC services under the scheme by producing their Aadhaar card. The scheme applies to the five categories of buses listed by the corporation and has been specifically extended to special temple services, the release noted.
- Who benefits: Women residents of Andhra Pradesh carrying Aadhaar.
- Where it applies: All APSRTC services in five categories plus designated temple specials.
- Operational scale: Around three quarters of the fleet are deployed for the scheme.
Fiscal and policy context
The reported figure of ₹3,095 crore spent in the first year and a daily subsidy of ₹8.53 crore underline the fiscal cost of universal free travel for women on state-run buses. The government has framed the measure as a step to increase mobility and safety for women by improving access to public transport. Officials highlighted increased ridership and higher occupancy as indicators of demand and utilisation.
Transportation experts and budget analysts typically weigh such social-mobility schemes against foregone fare revenue and long-term sustainability, but specific independent assessments for Stree Shakti have not been released in the cited statement.
What officials reported
Information in this report is based on an official press release and PTI reporting. The Chief Minister’s on-board interactions and his explanation of the Sanjeevani digital health record scheme were mentioned in the release.
As the scheme enters its second year, the government will face scrutiny over budgetary allocations, operational capacity and whether benefits translate into measurable gains in women's economic participation and safety while commuting.
