Free bus transport for women in Andhra Pradesh likely from Ugadi, says TDP leader Palla Srinivasa Rao

Free bus transport for women in Andhra Pradesh likely from Ugadi, says TDP leader Palla Srinivasa Rao. A committee of Ministers is looking into the scheme, which is one of the promises made by the NDA, says the TDP State president.

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) State president and Gajuwaka MLA Palla Srinivasa Rao has said the free transport facility for women in APSRTC buses, which is one of the promises made by the NDA government in Andhra Pradesh, may be kick-started from Ugadi, the Telugu new year, which falls on March 30, 2025.

Addressing the media in Visakhapatnam on December 31, 2024 (Tuesday), Mr. Srinivasa Rao said the government had constituted a committee of Ministers, comprising V. Anitha (Home), G. Sandhya Rani (Tribal Affairs), and M. Ramprasad Reddy (Transport), to undertake a study before rolling out the scheme.

“It is yet to be decided whether the APSRTC will run the buses, or will any agency be roped in. The committee will take a decision on it,” Mr. Srinivasa Rao said.

Referring to the appointment of senior IAS officer K. Vijayanand as Chief Secretary to the government, he said it prooved that the NDA government in the State was according priority to the BCs.

“Union Minister K. Rammohan Naidu, DGP Ch. Dwaraka Tirumala Rao and myself hail from the Backward Classes. BCs comprise more than 50% in the State Cabinet. Over 60% MLAs are BCs,” he said.

The previous YSRCP government had given priority to only one community, the TDP leader said. “Apart from important government positions, the YSRCP made four leaders from one community as regional coordinators,” he observed.

Mr. Srinivasa Rao said government would focus on employment creation and attracting investments to Visakhapatnam district in 2025.