Priyadarshini scheme has drawn KSRTC closer to the public, says Minister C.P. John

The Priyadarshini free travel scheme for women has strengthened the bond between the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and the public, Transport Minister C.P. John has said.

He was speaking in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday after inaugurating the 100-day celebrations of the scheme at the Thampanoor Central Bus Depot. As part of the event, the Minister distributed sweets to woman passengers.

Mr. John said the money women saved on bus fares was being spent in the open market, giving a boost to the State's economy and its markets.

Freight and tourism plans

Outlining future development, the Minister said the KSRTC was entering the freight transport sector. The corporation plans to lease trucks to tap opportunities emerging from projects such as the Vizhinjam International Seaport and the expansion of national highways.

He also announced that a memorandum of understanding had been signed with the Water Transport department to expand the KSRTC's budget tourism packages in collaboration with the Water Metro.

Additional buses will be arranged for the coming Sabarimala pilgrimage season, he said.

Fleet expansion and partnerships

The Minister said opportunities would be offered to retired employees, including drivers, and to small-scale bus owners to buy new buses and lease them to the KSRTC. At present, MLAs are permitted to purchase up to three buses a year, he noted.

A scheme will soon be rolled out under which local self-government bodies can buy buses, with the KSRTC supplying the diesel and staff to operate them.

The State government aims to raise the KSRTC fleet from its current 5,700 buses to 10,000, Mr. John said.