Priyadarshini makes KSRTC more people-friendly, says Minister

Transport Minister C.P. John distributes sweets to a conductor as part of the 100 day celebrations of Priyadarshini free travel scheme for women on Ordinary buses of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation. The Priyadarshini free travel scheme implemented by the Keralam government for women has brought the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) closer to the public, Transport Minister C.P. John has said.The Minister was speaking after inaugurating the 100-day celebrations of the scheme at Thampanoor Central Bus Depot in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday (September 22, 2026).The money women saved on bus fare was spent in the open market, thereby boosting the State’s economy and the market, he said.As part of future development, the KSRTC was venturing into the freight transport sector. To facilitate this, the corporation would lease trucks to capitalise on opportunities arising from projects such as the Vizhinjam International Seaport and national highway expansion.The Minister also announced that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) had been signed with the Water Transport department to expand KSRTC’s budget tourism packages in collaboration with the Water Metro.Additional buses would be arranged for the Sabarimala pilgrimage season, said Mr. John.Opportunities would also be provided for retired employees, including drivers, and small-scale bus owners to purchase new buses and lease them to the KSRTC. Currently, MLAs had permission to purchase up to three buses annually, the Minister said.A scheme would soon be implemented wherein local self-government bodies could purchase buses, while the KSRTC would provide the diesel and staff to operate them. The State government aimed at increasing the KSRTC fleet from the current 5,700 buses to 10,000, he said.As part of the 100-day celebrations, the Minister distributed sweets to woman passengers. Published - September 22, 2026 09:12 pm IST