The Mahalakshmi scheme, drafted on the lines of Karnataka's Shakti scheme, was launched by the government on Saturday.
Published Dec 09, 2023 | 9:55 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 09, 2023 | 9:55 PM
The women showing the zero ticket card given on first day. (Deepika Pasham/South First)
School teacher A Srilatha couldn’t help beaming as she waited at the bus stop in front of the Osmania Medical College around 4 pm on Saturday, 9 December.
It was not a normal day for her — and for many other women bus commuters across Telangana. Srilatha was excited that she would be saving her ₹100 daily bus fare.
“I normally shell out ₹100 daily as bus ticket fare from the Old City to Kushaiguda. But now I will save nearly ₹3,000 per month. I can use the savings for my children and other household expenses,” she told South First.
Two hours earlier, the Congress government launched the Mahalakshmi scheme from the Assembly premises, enabling women to travel free on Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC)-operated non-luxury buses anywhere within the state.
Srilatha was happy that her two college-going daughters, too, would be saving on their bus fares. “In total, we will save around ₹8,000 to ₹9,000 a month, which is huge,” she gave a broad smile.
The scheme — one of the six guarantees of the Congress — allows “zero-ticket” travel to women residing in Telangana. The passengers should mandatorily carry an ID card as proof of address.
On the inaugural day, South First caught up with a few women commuters.
V Sreeja, 20, a third-year student of the Nizam College commutes between Bibinagar Mandal in Yadadri Bhuvangiri and Basheer Bagh daily, shelling out ₹850 a month for the bus pass and an additional ₹1,500 for the connecting bus.
“The extra charge is for the combination ticket as I have to change the buses,” she told South First.
The student sounded upbeat about the scheme. “We are three sisters. They are both younger to me and we all travel to colleges by bus. In total, we will save around ₹6,000 to ₹7,000 per month. We can save that money or use it for other purposes,” she said.
Sreeja added that the scheme would also benefit several female students from marginalised communities, especially those staying in Telangana Tribal Welfare Residential Educational Institutions Society (TWREIS)-run hostels. “They can now travel without worrying about the ticket fare.”
Women commuters at the MGBS. (Ajay Tomar/South First)
Around 3.30 pm, more than an hour after the scheme was launched, V Kalavati, a resident of Karwan in Hyderabad, was waiting with four other women members of her family and son to go to the Yadadri Temple.
“I feel good about this scheme. Earlier, when we used to go to the temple, we had to pay ₹250 per head; but now we get to travel free of cost,” she smiled, as the other women nodded in approval.
Swati M, a resident of Khammam but searching for a job in Hyderabad, expressed her gratitude to the government for allowing free travel. “This benefits middle-class families and women like us who are married. We don’t need to seek bus fare from our spouses or parents. This also helps in encouraging women who are striving to find employment in Hyderabad,” she said.
T Poojita, 20, who was travelling with her sister from MGBS to Afzalgunj on bus No 3, felt the Mahalakshmi scheme would help women from lower-income groups to travel late, without paying exorbitant fares for hiring cabs or taxis.
“A TSRTC bus is safer than any private mode of transport,” she said.
D Sathish said women in the family were happy since they need not depend on their men for their travelling needs.
Meanwhile, Aditi Reddy, 21, a student of the Osmania General College, who was at the MGBS to catch a bus to her hometown in Warangal, viewed the Mahalakshmi scheme as a step towards helping the citizens. However, she expressed some apprehensions.
“I am worried whether now the ticket fares of deluxe buses and toll rates would be hiked. This scheme reminds me of a quote I know: ‘If you are getting something for free, you are the product. It means we might be the scapegoat of the government’s agenda’,” she opined.
Telangana CM Revanth Reddy,Deputy CM Mallu Bhatti and other ministers launch the Mahalakshmi bus scheme. (Ajay Tomar/South First)
G Askhaya, a student, was worried about getting a seat on the bus. “It is a good step but the rush will be a huge concern. Earlier, too, we seldom got seats, now the chances (of finding a seat) are bleaker,” she said.
Ramyashree B, studying intermediate first year in St Francis, hoped that her parents would still give her money. “I travel from Shamirpet to Secunderabad. I purchased a three-month bus pass for ₹1,440. The free travel will help me in saving if my parents would still give me money,” she said.
However, she wanted the TSRTC to raise awareness about the Identity cards.
“Today, the conductor asked for bus passes and I showed it, but very few knew that they should carry a government-issued ID card. This is because most students are applying for identity cards,” Ramyashree said.
Several citizens as well as TSRTC employees told South First that the corporation should increase its fleet strength.
Meanwhile, all TSRTC staff members were yet to be equipped with zero tickets for women.
Ch Ramu, a driver on route number 211-B, said the ticketing system would be updated in the next two weeks.
“Until the software system is upgraded, conductors are instructed to verify the address on the women’s Identity cards to confirm their state of domicile, and enter the details manually into the system,” he said.
