Occupancy of women passengers shoots up in TSRTC buses

 Hyderabad: It was around 4.30 pm when a Komaravelli-bound Palle Velugu bus arrived at the platform in Jubilee Bus Station (JBS). A majority of seats were occupied by women and children within minutes.

A 35-year-old Nandan Kumar, who boarded the bus along with his sister, had a tough time getting a seat, which he finally got in the last row.

This was the situation at JBS on Saturday. Women occupancy has gone up significantly after the Mahalaxmi free travel was introduced in the state for women and transgenders.

Kumar said that when they boarded the bus, they were surprised to see that most of the seats were occupied by women.

M. Kanchana, a resident of Balajinagar in the city, who was on her way to Komuravelli along with her son, said that it was a good initiative that the government has embarked upon. Hundreds of women will benefit from the scheme, which will also reduce financial burden on women.

The bus conductor Ramewar said that they will not collect any fare from girls, women and transgenders.

"We will get zero travel tickets soon. Many women will prefer to travel by TSRTC buses to auto-rickshaws and private vehicles,” he said.  

Officials said that women constables will be posted to control congestion at JBS.