Andhra Pradesh Stree Shakti scheme has completed one year, with women making more than 87 crore fare-free bus journeys since its launch on August 15, 2025. The state government said an average of around 24 lakh women are now using the free travel facility every day.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu travelled on an Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) bus in Amaravati on August 15 to mark the first anniversary of the scheme. He interacted with women beneficiaries during the journey and sought feedback on how the initiative had affected their daily lives.
The Stree Shakti scheme is currently available on 7,631 APSRTC buses, accounting for about 76 per cent of the corporation’s total fleet. The services covered include Pallevelugu, Ultra Pallevelugu, Express, Metro Express and City Ordinary buses.
According to figures released by the Andhra Pradesh government, the number of women travelling on APSRTC buses has increased substantially since the scheme was introduced. Daily women passengers have risen from about 9.47 lakh before the scheme to approximately 24 lakh, while women’s share of total APSRTC passenger traffic has increased from 40 per cent to 62 per cent.
The government is providing a subsidy of around Rs 8.53 crore every day to support the scheme. The total expenditure on the free travel programme during its first year stood at about Rs 3,095 crore, according to the government’s anniversary figures.
Naidu said the scheme has helped women save money on transportation and use those savings for family and livelihood-related needs. During his interaction with beneficiaries, students and working women shared how free bus travel had helped them access educational institutions, markets and work-related activities.
The scheme was launched as part of the Andhra Pradesh government’s welfare commitments. The government has said the initiative is intended to improve women’s mobility and reduce their household transportation expenses.
With the scheme completing its first year, the sharp increase in passenger usage has also increased demand on APSRTC services. The government’s latest figures indicate that Stree Shakti has become a major component of public transport usage among women across Andhra Pradesh.
