The newly elected UDF government in Kerala, led by Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, has announced free travel for women on Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses, effective from June 15. This historic decision fulfills a key election promise and is expected to benefit thousands of women across the state.

However, the move raises concerns about KSRTC’s financial viability. The corporation already struggles to pay salaries and pensions on time, and over 1,100 buses older than 15 years face scrapping under central government rules by September 30. Meanwhile, private bus operators fear a sharp drop in revenue as women shift to KSRTC, and they are planning protests. The government is expected to release detailed guidelines soon, likely limiting free travel to ordinary city services and possibly within a 40-kilometer radius, similar to models in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Women will need to show ID proof and obtain zero-fare tickets via electronic ticketing machines, which already have a gender-ticketing feature.

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