65% of APSRTC passengers now women

Visakhapatnam: Women now account for 65% of APSRTC's total ridership following the rollout of the Stree Shakti free bus scheme. The occupancy ratio of women passengers has averaged 92%, crossing 100% on several days in March — 102% on March 2 and 109% on March 23.APSRTC's fleet of 11,000 buses — including 8,700 owned and 2,800 hired — is largely engaged in serving women passengers under the scheme. The state government is spending ₹8.55 crore per day, with cumulative expenditure reaching ₹1,906 crore to date.On average, 24.29 lakh women out of 41 lakh daily passengers are availing the scheme. Officials say the rising occupancy is straining the fleet and manpower, with an additional 3,000 buses required. The government plans to induct 1,000 electric buses soon, with 750 e-buses to be introduced across 11 cities in the first phase. Even then, RTC estimates a shortfall of 2,000 buses.Transport Minister Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy confirmed that women constitute 65% of travellers and said more EV buses will be added to the fleet.Visakhapatnam tops the state in women ridership. Daily women passengers have doubled from 1.5 lakh to 3 lakh, with 569 of the district's 800 buses dedicated to the scheme. Monthly ridership in Visakhapatnam has touched one crore, of which 75 lakh are women. RTC's regional manager B. Appala Naidu said proposals for 300 additional buses, including 100 e-buses, have already been sent.