Thiruvananthapuram, 22 September (H.S.) Priyadarshini Yatra scheme, which provides free travel for women on Kerala State Road Transport Corporation ordinary buses, completed 100 days on Tuesday, recording a significant increase in female passengers.

Transport Minister C.P. John will visit the KSRTC depot at Thampanoor at 10 a.m. to mark the milestone. KSRTC employees will distribute sweets among passengers as part of the celebrations.

The State government launched the scheme on June 15, 2026, with the objective of reducing the travel expenses of women and encouraging more of them to use public transport. According to official figures, the number of women travelling on ordinary KSRTC buses has increased by 60 per cent since the programme was introduced.

The government believes the free travel facility has encouraged more women, particularly workers, students and those from economically weaker families, to depend on public transport for their daily journeys.

Women have so far received free travel benefits worth ₹266.53 crore under the scheme. A total of 12.54 crore free journeys have been recorded during the first 100 days. On average, around 12.93 lakh women travel free on KSRTC ordinary buses every day.

Officials said the number of male passengers using ordinary services had also increased, indicating an overall rise in public transport patronage after the scheme’s introduction.

Meanwhile, KSRTC Chairman P.S. Pramoj Shankar dismissed social media reports claiming that sarees would be distributed to women at all KSRTC depots to mark the scheme’s 100th day.

He said the widely circulated claim was completely baseless and that the corporation had made no arrangements for such a distribution.

KSRTC issued the clarification after the false message gained traction across social media platforms. The corporation urged passengers and the public not to believe or circulate unverified information about its programmes and official celebrations.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman