Kerala state bus free rides for women, trans persons from June 15

Kerala's state-run buses will provide free rides to women and transgender individuals starting June 15, a significant poll promise of the newly elected UDF government. The initiative aims to ease financial burdens and promote accessibility for these groups.

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All women, regardless of their financial backgrounds, will be able to avail the scheme from June 15. Transgender persons have also been included.

Transport Minister CP John announced that the scheme, while beneficial, will incur substantial costs for the exchequer. Estimates range from ₹712 crore to ₹1,300 crore annually, depending on the scope of implementation. The higher end of the estimate assumes free travel across all classes of buses, while the lower end restricts it to 'ordinary' class buses operating on local routes.

John assured that the financial strain would not fall on the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), which has been operating at a loss for years. The government intends to devise a financial package to support the scheme. This move is part of the 'Indira Guarantees' announced by the Congress-led UDF during the election campaign, marking the first time a government in Kerala has introduced free bus travel for a segment of its population.

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If the scheme is restricted to the ‘ordinary’ class of KSRTC buses, which operate on short local routes, it would cost around ₹712 crore annually. If it is expanded to all classes of buses, it would cost ₹1,300 crore annually.

Further details regarding the implementation, including specific bus classes eligible for free travel, will be finalized after a cabinet meeting on June 10. The inclusion of transgender persons alongside women signifies a broader commitment to inclusivity within public transportation.

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The financial burden of the scheme would not fall on KSRTC, indicating that the government would devise a financial package to support its implementation.