Next cabinet meeting to take final call on rolling out free-travel scheme for women on KSRTC buses

The cabinet meeting to be held next week is likely to take a final call on implementing the proposed free travel scheme for women in Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses. Speaking to the media here on Saturday, Transport Minister C.P. John said the details regarding the implementation of the scheme will be revealed after discussing it in the Cabinet. The minister also assured that the proposed free travel scheme to be implemented from June 15, will not affect the payment of salaries or pensions of the corporation’s employees. According to him the cost of implementing the concession will be borne by the State government, and not entirely by the cash-strapped KSRTC.

The scheme requires government support for its effective rollout. “Everyone knows that such a concession cannot be provided using KSRTC’s revenue. It will need support from the State treasury, and the Cabinet will have to take a decision on that,” he said. He, however, refused to announce the details of the cost sharing along with the exact additional financial burden to be shouldered by the KSRTC. According to him, Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, who also holds the Finance portfolio, would clarify the categories of KSRTC services in which the scheme could be introduced and the funding mechanism for its implementation.

The free travel concession for women was among the key ‘Indira Guarantees’ promised by the Congress-led UDF in its Assembly election manifesto. Following its landslide victory in the elections, the UDF government’s first Cabinet meeting decided to roll out the scheme on KSRTC buses from June 15. Vehicle Census John on Saturday visited the Transport Commissionerate and conducted a review meeting. During the meeting he appreciated the Motor Vehicle Department’s (MVD) work in Sabarimala Safe Zone, especially for achieving zero pilgrim fatality in the last season. He instructed that MVD must start advance preparations immediately for the upcoming Sabarimala Safe Zone.

He also directed that MVD must consult other departments and organised pilgrim groups for feedback and further improve the services. He then directed that a vehicle census be conducted to estimate the actual number of vehicles on the road to streamline vahan data. A committee of officers has been set up to study and suggest a formula and mode of census.