The debate around KSRTC’s free travel scheme for women, a key UDF promise championed by Rahul Gandhi during the elections, has resurfaced. The proposal offers free bus travel for women across Kerala’s state-run public transport network. While critics question its financial viability, supporters argue it is a necessary social investment with long-term economic and social benefits.

The core argument in favor is simple: greater access to public transport reduces reliance on private vehicles. Fewer cars and two-wheelers on the road mean less traffic congestion, lower carbon emissions, and safer roads. For women in particular, taking a KSRTC bus is far safer than driving alone, especially for those working low-income jobs in hospitals, markets, shops, and the fishing industry across cities like Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, and Wayanad.

Not all bus services need to be included. The scheme is best applied to city services, ordinary services, and fast passenger services — the buses that working women use daily. AC buses, super-fast services, and interstate services cater to occasional travelers and are better left out for financial reasons.

The estimated additional cost is around 30 to 40 crore rupees per month. This is a modest sum compared to what the government already spends on KSRTC — hundreds of crores monthly on salaries and pensions. The same government that finds thousands of crores for salary revisions and DA arrears can certainly fund a scheme that directly benefits half the population.

Moreover, the scheme may actually increase KSRTC’s total revenue. When women travel free, the men accompanying them will buy tickets instead of opting for private buses. More passengers overall means higher occupancy and better per-bus economics. Combined with efforts to cut wasteful expense, the scheme is financially sustainable.

Free travel for women on KSRTC is not a loss-making proposition. It is a practical, socially necessary policy that, if implemented wisely, can boost both public welfare and the corporation’s bottom line.