The State-run Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has begun the process to implement gender ticketing in buses operating across the State on Saturday. A circular was issued on Friday to the public utility officials suggesting measures to introduce a gender ticketing system in buses, which will record if a passenger is a woman, man or child in ticket machines operated by the conductor of the buses.

The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) had promised in its election manifesto that free travel would be provided for women in the State transport buses, a freebie offer which was cheered by women voters, who outnumber men voters in Kerala. Before implementing the scheme, the corporation is trying to estimate the financial obligations the corporation will have to shoulder as part of offering free travel for women.

As part of this, Electronic Ticketing Machines (ETMs) have been updated. According to the circular issued, all the conductors in the KSRTC buses should record the gender of passengers. The printed tickets generated by the ETMs will indicate the gender of the passenger, according to the officials.

Although the UDF had promised free KSRTC travel for women across the State, offering free travel to women is also riddled with serious challenge for the cash-strapped public utility.

Similar schemes have already been implemented in the neighbouring Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.