Nizamabad: A festive atmosphere was witnessed in all six TSRTC depots in Nizamabad and Kamareddy districts as students, girls, women and transgenders enjoyed free travel in buses after the Maha Lakshmi scheme was launched on Saturday afternoon marking AICC chief Sonia Gandhi’s 77th birthday.
Of the Six Guarantees, the Congress government implemented free bus travel for women and enhancement of coverage under the Arogyasri scheme to Rs 10 lakh.
The buses were decorated and banners of Maha Lakshmi scheme were tied on the launch day.
In Kamareddy, collector Jitesh V. Patil, SP Sindhu Sharma, district transport officer Vani, RTC depot manager Indira and others took part in the inaugural programme by flagging off two special buses for Sadashivanagar and Tadwai mandals for women only.
A woman employee said that she used to spend '1,300 a month on travel expenses, but now she could travel for free. Girl students also said that they were happy that they didn’t need to buy or renew bus passes for safe and free travel henceforth.
The collector said that the state government was giving priority to women's empowerment and their safety. Women can travel for free in ordinary and express buses by showing any identity card including Aadhaar, EPIC, etc., he said.
