ANDHRA PRADESH STARTS ‘STREE SHAKTI’ FREE BUS RIDES; AROUND 1.2 MILLION WOMEN HOP ON IN FIRST 30 HOURS
VIJAYAWADA, Andhra Pradesh, India – August 18, 2025:Andhra Pradesh just kicked off ‘Stree Shakti,’ a free bus travel deal for women, and it’s super popular! About 1.2 million women took advantage of the free rides in the first day and a half. This was a big promise from the new government, trying to make things easier on women’s wallets and get them around the state. The huge number of riders right away shows that people really wanted this and that it could really improve things for women.
The Big Launch and What the Numbers Say
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu launched ‘Stree Shakti’ on August 15, 2025, which was India’s Independence Day. It was a party atmosphere because they were keeping a major promise from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP)’s election plan.
The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) said that around 1,190,000 women rode for free in the first 30 hours. That’s in cities and the countryside, so it’s a pretty widespread thing.
How the Rides Work
Any woman or transgender person who lives in Andhra Pradesh can ride for free. All they need is a government photo ID to prove they live there, like an Aadhaar card, voter ID, or ration card.
They can use this on Pallevelugu, Ultra Pallevelugu, City Ordinary, Metro Express, and Express buses from APSRTC. No free rides on the fancy buses or buses going out of state, though.
How It’s Paid For
The ‘Stree Shakti’ deal is costing the government a lot. They’ve set aside about ₹1,942 crore for the year to pay for it.
APSRTC will get money back for the fares they would have collected. They’ll count how many free tickets the drivers give out and send a report to the government. This way, the bus company doesn’t lose money, and the whole thing can keep going.
Keeping a Promise
This free bus thing was a big part of the TDP-Jana Sena-BJP alliance’s campaign. They said it would really benefit women and young people. Chief Minister Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan keep saying that it’s about letting women get to school, jobs, and be part of the community.
They got this going just months after getting into office, showing they’re serious about what they said they’d do. The idea was to get started fast and give people what they voted for.
First Problems and What People Think
Even though the launch went well, there have been a few little problems. Some women didn’t have the right ID. Some drivers weren’t sure which IDs they could take.
But mostly, people are happy, especially women who don’t make a lot of money and go to work or school every day. They’re saving a bunch of money, which they can use for other important stuff. This is huge for people who work for daily wages and students.
Bigger Changes for the Community
‘Stree Shakti’ should make a big difference in the long run. If it’s easier and cheaper to get around, more women might go to school. More women might also join the workforce since they can get to jobs more easily.
Being able to get around more also means women can be more independent. They can go to the doctor, do errands, and join in on community events. All of this makes them healthier and gives them more control over their lives. It’s seen as a move towards making things fairer for women when it comes to getting around.
APSRTC Ready, and What’s Next?
APSRTC says they’re ready for all the extra riders. The chairman, A.K. Reddy, said they’ve been figuring out how to handle the crowds. They might run buses more often on popular routes and add more buses later on.
The government is also promising to give APSRTC the money they need to buy more buses or deal with other costs. This long-term support is super important for ‘Stree Shakti’ to work out.
How It Compares
Andhra Pradesh is doing what other states in India have already done. For example, Karnataka has the Shakti scheme, and Delhi has free buses for women. These programs show that if you make public transport free, women get around a lot more.
The details are a little different in each place, but the main idea is the same: to help women and make things more equal. Andhra Pradesh is trying to meet the specific needs of its people, and it looks like it’s going to be just as successful as the other programs.
