Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan has announced that free travel for women on KSRTC buses will be implemented from June 15, sparking discussions on how the scheme can be rolled out without significant financial burden on the state-owned corporation.

As part of feasibility planning, KSRTC conducted a five-day survey from May 8 to count women and transgender passengers across its services. The data is being used to determine which bus categories should offer free travel and how much financial compensation the government would need to provide.

Currently, KSRTC’s daily revenue stands at Rs 7-8 crore, with women making up 40-50% of total passengers. If free travel is implemented across all services, the corporation could face a daily loss of approximately Rs 3.5 crore. Even a limited rollout restricted to ordinary (non-AC) buses would result in a daily loss exceeding Rs 90 lakh. The government already provides around Rs 100 crore monthly to cover salaries and pensions.

The state is looking at the Karnataka model, where free travel is offered on non-AC, non-interstate buses operated by five corporations including KSRTC, BMTC, NWKRTC, and KKRTC under the Shakti scheme. From June 2023 to June 2025, 474 crore women utilized the facility. In Bengaluru alone, about 24 lakh women travel free daily, costing the government approximately Rs 11 crore per day.

Telangana follows a similar approach. In Tamil Nadu, women and transgender persons get free travel on all ordinary, city, and town buses up to 30 km, with pink buses exclusively for women operating in cities like Chennai. West Bengal’s BJP government has also implemented a similar scheme.

Kerala joins nine states across India that currently offer free or subsidized bus travel for women. Authorities plan to finalize the implementation framework after further discussions involving the newly appointed Transport Minister.