Billed as a significant step towards women’s empowerment, the Kerala government on Monday (June 15, 2026) launched its ambitious flagship ‘Priyadarshini’ free travel scheme for all women and transgender persons on ordinary buses operated by the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC).

Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan inaugurated the scheme at the Thampanoor Central Bus Station around 9.30 a.m. The inaugural journey carrying the Chief Minister and other dignitaries from the bus station to the Secretariat premises was operated entirely by women crew.

The scheme will cover around 3,125 ordinary buses operated by the KSRTC, although not all of them are currently in service due to operational constraints. It is expected to have a far-reaching impact on women from diverse social and economic backgrounds across the State.

Under the scheme, women and transgender persons can travel free of charge on seven categories of KSRTC ordinary services: ordinary, city ordinary, limited-stop ordinary, fair-stage ordinary, town-to-town, point-to-point, and Gramavandi services. Ahead of the launch, stickers were affixed to eligible buses to help passengers identify the services under the scheme.

Substantial financial burden

One of the five guarantees promised by the United Democratic Front (UDF) in its election manifesto, the scheme is expected to impose a substantial financial burden on the cash-strapped KSRTC. However, the Chief Minister has assured that the State government will provide special financial support to compensate the corporation for the expenditure incurred.

According to preliminary estimates, the daily cost of implementing the scheme on ordinary services alone is expected to be around ₹2 crore. The exact financial liability, however, will be assessed after analysing ticketing data generated following the rollout.

Expansion of benefits

During the initial phase, women and transgender passengers will be allowed to travel free of charge on ordinary bus services for the first 100 days. Following a review of the scheme’s performance, the government plans to consider extending the benefit to other categories of services, including fast and superfast buses.

The State government views the initiative not merely as a welfare measure but also as an economic stimulus. Officials estimate that the scheme could reduce women’s travel expenditure by 15% to 25%, enabling greater disposable income that could, in turn, boost economic activity.

Women in southern Kerala, particularly in Thiruvananthapuram, are expected to benefit significantly from the scheme. The region currently has around 687 operational ordinary buses, while the southern districts together account for 1,268 buses, making them among the largest beneficiaries of the initiative.