Free travel scheme in Kerala comes under fire as some commuters claim that KSRTC has renamed Ordinary buses as City Fast services overnight

Conductor distributing zero-fare tickets to women passengers on board KSRTC bus in Palakkad after launch of Kerala Govt Priyadarshini scheme | Photo credit: KK MUSTAFAH

Soon after the launch of the United Democratic Front (UDF) government’s flagship ‘Priyadarshini free travel scheme’ for women and transgender persons in regular buses operated by the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), controversy hit the project, with a section of commuters and critics alleging that there were coordinated attempts by the public bus to skirt the norm for buses and public transport.

Under the scheme, free travel is available only in regular buses of seven selected categories, while City Fast buses along with inter-district and inter-state express, superfast and luxury buses have been excluded from the project in the first phase of 100 days.

A section of commuters alleged that the number of City Fast branded buses swelled overnight in Thiruvananthapuram city on Monday, depriving many passengers of the benefits of the scheme. They alleged that City Fast stickers were pasted on buses parked in and around the Thiruvananthapuram City depot to deny passengers the benefits of the free travel scheme.

However, the authorities clarified that the system is not available on City Fast services in the first phase and that stickers have been affixed to help passengers easily identify these buses.

“There are 34 regular buses in the city depot. Of these, 32 are electric buses and two are diesel buses. All of them have been given ‘Priyadarshini Free Travel’ stickers. Besides, 47 City Fast buses continue to run as before and only City Fast stickers have been pasted on them,” city depot officials said.

Currently, free travel is available on Ordinary, City Ordinary, Limited Stop Ordinary, Point-to-Point, Gramavandi, Fair Stage Limited Stop and Town-to-Town Limited Stop services.

Currently, there are 384 City Fast buses and 687 Ordinary buses plying in Thiruvananthapuram district. Apart from regular services, City Fast services are operated to a large extent only in Thiruvananthapuram city as compared to the rest of the state.

As per the latest government tariff notification dated 30 April 2022, the minimum fare for City Fast services has been fixed at ₹12 with a charge of ₹1.03 per km. Meanwhile, the minimum fare for City Ordinary services is ₹10 with a charge of ₹1 per km.

Published – 15 Jun 2026 14:44 IST