Kerala transport minister CP John announced that the state-run bus service will offer free rides to women and transgender persons from June 15. The scheme, one of the UDF government's key poll promises, is expected to cost between ₹712 crore and ₹1,300 crore annually.
The free bus ride scheme will be implemented in Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses and will be available to all women, regardless of their financial backgrounds. Transgender persons have also been included in the scheme.
The finer details of the scheme's implementation, such as the class of buses in which the free rides would be offered, will be revealed after the cabinet meeting on June 10.
The financial burden of the scheme will not fall on KSRTC, as the government will devise a financial package to support its implementation.
