AP govt forms panel to study free bus travel for women

The Andhra Pradesh government on Saturday appointed a ministerial sub-committee to explore the implementation of free bus travel for women.

The sub-committee will be led by Transport Minister Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy and includes Home Minister Anitha and Tribal Affairs and Women and Child Welfare Minister Gummadi Sandhyarani as members. The principal secretary of the Transport Department will convene the committee.

The panel has been tasked with studying free travel initiatives in other states and submitting a detailed report to the government at the earliest. Transport Minister Ramprasad Reddy recently announced that arrangements are underway to roll out the free bus travel scheme for women by the upcoming Sankranti festival.

The initiative, part of Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu's flagship schemes, aims to empower women by enhancing their mobility and access to opportunities. The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) has already started making logistical preparations for the scheme’s rollout. With the committee in place, the government is expected to expedite the framework and operational guidelines for the ambitious project.