The Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) buses are currently operating at full capacity due to the introduction of the government’s ‘Maha Lakshmi Scheme’ free travel for women initiative.
However, this program has started to impact buses operated by neighboring Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka States. Officials note a decrease in the Seat Occupancy Ratio in buses from these states running to and from Telangana. Simultaneously, the number of passengers in TSRTC Super Luxury buses within the state is decreasing, while footfall in express services is on the rise.
TSRTC and Andhra Pradesh RTC buses operate between Hyderabad and cities like Vijayawada, Guntur, Rajahmundry, Visakhapatnam, Ongole, Tirupati, and Kurnool. Buses from Andhra Pradesh also travel to and from Khammam, Mahabubnagar, and Nizamabad. Both states have buses connecting to places like Bengaluru, Bidar, and Raichur in Karnataka.
Women with valid identity proof showing a state address enjoy free travel in TSRTC Palle Velugu and Express buses until the state borders. Consequently, women travelers to neighboring states are trying to minimize their travel expenses.
“We’ve noticed that on the Hyderabad to Vijayawada route, women are traveling for free and only buying a ticket after Kodad. This is a daily occurrence, and with free travel, the cost is reduced by Rs 300 per person,” stated a senior RTC official.
The impact of the Maha Lakshmi scheme on buses traveling from AP to the border districts of Telangana is also significant. Passenger traffic in buses from Rajahmundry and Vijayawada to Madhira, Sathupalli, and Khammam in Telangana has decreased.
Bidar in Karnataka is approximately 143 km from Hyderabad, with over 110 km of it in Telangana. The passenger rush in TSRTC buses on this route has notably increased, with women passengers benefiting from the free service until the border and then purchasing a ticket only for the part in Karnataka.
