VIJAYAWADA:
The coalition government’s so-called free bus travel scheme is nothing more than a ‘‘blatant scam designed to deceive women’‘, alleged YSRCP State official spokesperson Putha Siva Shankar Reddy.
At a press meet at the party’s central office at Tadepalli near here on Monday, he accused the government of imposing ‘‘conditions that run counter to the pre-poll promises made by Chandrababu Naidu, Pawan Kalyan, and Nara Lokesh who had assured women of seamless, cost-free journeys across Andhra Pradesh, including to pilgrimage destinations’‘.
Mr. Reddy said the scheme covers only five bus categories — Palle Velugu, Ultra Palle Velugu, City Ordinary, Express, and Metro Express — while excluding non-stop, inter-State services, Saptagiri Express, Ultra Deluxe, Super Luxury, Star Liner, and all AC buses.
“With such limitations, how can women visit Tirumala without multiple bus changes and days of travel?” he asked, adding that the plan is impractical for long-distance and inter-district journeys.
Despite having 15 months to prepare, the scheme falls short of successful models in Karnataka and Telangana, Reddy said, calling it evidence of the government’s incompetence and intent to “cheat women rather than empower them.”
He challenged Transport Minister Ramprasad Reddy to explain “how many bus changes and days it would take to travel from Srikakulam to Tirupati under these rules.”
He criticised the government for ‘‘targeting the Sakshi media group for exposing’‘, what he called, “this fraud.”
Mr. Reddy urged women to recognise the betrayal, warning that “true welfare means unrestricted access, not hollow promises crafted to fail.”
Published – August 11, 2025 08:45 pm IST
