Plantation women from Tamil Nadu rejoice in KSRTC free ride

Women boarding an interstate bus at Kumily bus stand in Idukki on Wednesday. | Photo credit: Sandeep Vellaram

The Kerala government’s flagship ‘Priyadarshini’ offering free travel for all women and transgender persons in regular buses run by the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has won the hearts of cardamom plantation workers commuting from Tamil Nadu.

However, the overwhelming response, which has resulted in a daily dip in collections, has fueled speculation that the government may soon restrict the facility to commuters within state borders. An official in Kumily’s department told The Hindu that in light of the scheme’s popularity among plantation workers traveling from Tamil Nadu, the authorities are believed to be considering introducing restrictions. The official added that the depot has already provided details of the Ordinary interstate buses plying from there.

KSRTC managing director Pramoj Sankar said the corporation would allow all women commuters to travel free of cost in regular inter-state buses it runs if there is no complaint against such an arrangement.

Officials said a large number of women workers traveled from neighboring villages in Tamil Nadu to major cardamom growing areas in Kerala such as Nedumkandam, Chakupallom, Anavilasom, Vandanmedu, Rajakumari and Vallakkadavu and relied heavily on these interstate buses via Kumily, Cumbumettu and Bodimetta for daily operations.

Rasathi, a resident of Gudalur in Tamil Nadu and a regular commuter, said she used to work in a cardamom plantation in Chakupallom and the free travel scheme was a big financial relief. “Now, thanks to the Kerala government, we can take home our full salary,” she said.

Lakshmi Ammal, another worker from Cumbum in Tamil Nadu expressed her gratitude to the Kerala Chief Minister. “Through this decision, the Kerala government respects women,” she said.

An official from KSRTC Kumily depot said that the depot was operating three inter-state buses on the Kumily-Cumbum route namely Cumbum-Chakkupallom, Cumbum-Anavilasom and Cumbum-Santhamnada routes since early morning. Together, these three buses made almost 20 trips every day.

“The average daily collection per bus used to be ₹26,000 but has come down to below ₹8,000 since the introduction of the free travel scheme. Women commuters from Tamil Nadu are now specifically waiting for the free KSRTC buses, with nearly 100 to 120 women boarding each journey,” the official said.

“Tamil Nadu male workers are spreading the word about free travel for women in Kerala buses in their villages and encouraging them to use the service. Since the launch of the Priyadarshini scheme, the number of women interstate passengers has increased significantly,” the official noted.

Published – 17 Jun 2026 21:49 IST