Next cabinet meeting to take final call to introduce free travel scheme for women in KSRTC buses

CP John | Photo credit: th-online admin

The cabinet meeting to be held next week is likely to take a final call on the proposed free travel scheme for women in Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses. Talking to the media on Saturday, Transport Minister CP John said that the details regarding the implementation of the scheme would be revealed after deliberations in the cabinet.

The minister also assured that the proposed free travel scheme to be introduced from June 15 will not affect the payment of salaries or pensions of the company’s employees. According to him, the cost of implementing the concession will be borne by the state government and not by the all-cash KSRTC. The system requires government support for its effective implementation.

“Everybody knows that such a concession cannot be given from KSRTC’s revenue. It will require support from the exchequer and that will have to be decided by the government,” he said. However, he refused to announce the cost sharing details along with the exact additional financial burden to be borne by KSRTC.

According to him, Chief Minister VD Satheesan, who is also the finance portfolio holder, would clarify the categories of KSRTC services in which the system could be introduced and the funding mechanism for its implementation.

The free travel concession for women was among the key “Indira guarantees” promised by the Congress-led UDF in its Assembly election manifesto. After a landslide victory in the elections, the first meeting of the UDF government decided to implement the scheme on KSRTC buses from June 15.

Vehicle count

Mr. John visited the Transport Commission on Saturday and conducted a review meeting. During the meeting, he appreciated the work of the Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) in the Sabarimala Safe Zone, especially for achieving zero death rate of pilgrims last season. He instructed that the MVD must immediately start preliminary preparations for the upcoming Sabarimala safe zone.

He also directed that MVD must consult other departments and organized groups of pilgrims for feedback and further improve services. He then ordered that a vehicle count be conducted to estimate the actual number of vehicles on the road to streamline the scale data. A commission of officers was set up to study and suggest the formula and method of enumeration.

Published – 23 May 2026 21:27 IST