Priyadarshini is making KSRTC more people friendly, says minister

Transport Minister CP John distributes sweets to a conductor as part of the 100-day celebrations of Priyadarshini free travel scheme for women in ordinary buses of Kerala State Road Transport Corporation.

The Kerala government’s Priyadarshini free travel scheme for women has brought the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) closer to the public, Transport Minister CP John said.

The minister said this after inaugurating the 100-day celebrations of the scheme at Thampanoor Central Bus Depot in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday (September 22, 2026).

The money the women saved on bus fare was spent in the open market, boosting the state’s economy and the market, he said.

As part of future development, KSRTC has ventured into the freight sector. To facilitate this, the company would hire trucks to take advantage of opportunities arising from projects such as the Vizhinjam International Seaport and the expansion of national highways.

The Minister also announced that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed with the Water Transport Department to expand KSRTC’s tourism budget packages in collaboration with the Water Metro.

More buses will be arranged for the Sabarimala pilgrimage season, Mr. John said.

Retired employees, including drivers, and small-scale bus owners would also have the opportunity to purchase new buses and lease them to KSRTC. Currently, MLAs are allowed to purchase up to three buses a year, the minister said.

A scheme would soon be introduced where local self-government bodies could purchase buses while KSRTC would provide diesel and staff to run them. The state government aimed to increase the KSRTC fleet from the current 5,700 buses to 10,000, he said.

As part of the 100-day celebration, the minister distributed sweets to female passengers.

Published – 22 Sep 2026 21:12 IST