Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday travelled in an Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) bus along with women beneficiaries as the Stree Shakti free bus travel scheme completed one year, with the government stating that an average of 24 lakh women were availing themselves of the facility every day.
N. Chandrababu Naidu boarded the bus after attending the Independence Day celebrations in Amaravati and interacted with women passengers during the journey. N. Chandrababu Naidu sought feedback on the implementation of the scheme and enquired about the beneficiaries’ families, livelihoods and health.
The Stree Shakti scheme was launched on August 15, 2025, as one of the welfare measures promised by the NDA government under its ‘Super Six’ commitments.
Under the scheme, girls, women and transgender persons domiciled in Andhra Pradesh are entitled to free travel on five categories of APSRTC services — Pallevelugu, Ultra Pallevelugu, Express, Metro Express and City Ordinary buses. Eligible passengers are required to produce valid identity proof establishing their Andhra Pradesh domicile.
There is no restriction on either the distance travelled or the number of journeys undertaken within the State on services covered by the scheme. The government has also extended the facility to eligible special bus services operated to temples during major religious occasions.
According to figures released by the government on the first anniversary, more than 87 crore free journeys have been recorded since the launch of Stree Shakti.
The average number of women travelling on APSRTC buses every day has increased from 9.47 lakh before the introduction of the scheme to about 24 lakh. Women's share of the corporation's total passenger traffic has increased from 40% to 62%, while occupancy on buses covered by the scheme has reached 93%, according to the anniversary data.
Of APSRTC's fleet of 9,978 buses, 7,631, or about 76%, are covered under Stree Shakti.
The government said it was providing a subsidy of ₹8.53 crore a day towards implementation of the scheme. Expenditure during the first year stood at ₹3,095 crore.
The figures indicate a substantial increase in utilisation since the programme was introduced. More than 6.4 crore free journeys were recorded during the first month of implementation, between August 15 and September 15, 2025, when average occupancy on eligible services was reported at about 85%. By the completion of the first year, cumulative journeys had crossed 87 crore and occupancy had risen to 93%.
The government has said the scheme is aimed at reducing women's expenditure on transport and improving their access to education, employment, healthcare, business and other essential activities.
APSRTC has said the free travel facility could result in savings of around ₹1,000 a month for a beneficiary household. Officials have also reported a shift towards public transport from shared autorickshaws and private vehicles on some routes following the introduction of the scheme.
The sharp increase in passenger traffic has, however, placed additional pressure on APSRTC's fleet. Transport Minister Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy had said in March that the rise in women's ridership had increased demand for services, prompting the corporation to assess the requirement for additional buses.
The State government has continued financial support for the programme in the 2026-27 Budget, with ₹1,420 crore provided under the relevant budget head for Stree Shakti free bus travel.
Andhra Pradesh is among the southern States offering free public bus travel to women. Telangana operates a similar facility under the Maha Lakshmi scheme, while Karnataka provides free bus travel to eligible women under its Shakti programme. The Andhra Pradesh scheme covers five categories of APSRTC services.
As part of programmes organised across the State to mark one year of Stree Shakti, N. Chandrababu Naidu interacted with beneficiaries and sought their views on the service and its implementation.
The government said the scheme would continue as one of its principal welfare measures aimed at improving mobility among women and reducing their household transport expenditure.
Stree Shakti Completes One Year; 24 Lakh Women Avail Free Bus Travel Daily
