Andhra Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu seen travelling in Stree Shakti bus and interacts with a woman passenger at Kuppam of Chittoor district. File Photo: Special Arrangement
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“After implementation of Stree Shakti scheme, 23-25 lakh women passengers are availing free travel facility in the State-run buses every day,” said M.T. Krishna Babu, who assumed charge as the vice-chairman and Managing Director of Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) on Monday (February 2, 2026).
At a review meeting he held with senior RTC officials, Mr. Babu informed that women commuters now constitute 65-67% of the total number of passengers, with the occupancy ratio touching nearly 90%, thereby significantly strengthening the Corporation’s financial stability.
The review focussed on the Corporation’s financial position, bus maintenance, passenger services, amenities at bus station and employee welfare. Mr. Krishna Babu directed the officials to enhance operational efficiency, ensure better passenger services and immediately rectify deficiencies in buses and bus station maintenance.
Referring to electric buses, he said a comprehensive plan is under way to introduce electric buses across the State over the next five years. “Under the PM e-Bus Sewa scheme, 1,050 electric buses and an additional 1,450 electric and CNG buses will be inducted into the APSRTC fleet,” he informed.
He said to improve transport infrastructure in the State, funds to the tune of ₹3,000 crore will be released in phases for development of roads, covering 10,700 km across the State.
Mr. Krishna Babu said as per an Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) survey on passenger satisfaction, 80% of passengers had expressed satisfaction with the RTC services, while 20% pointed out issues related to toilet facilities and drinking water at bus stations. He instructed the officials to address these shortcomings on priority.
Reiterating the Government’s priority towards employee welfare, he informed that 682 medically unfit employees in the Public Transport Department had been provided with alternative employment or AMB benefits.
The meeting also discussed commercial utilisation of vacant RTC lands and expansion of cargo services, which are currently generating around ₹210 crore annually, to further strengthen the Corporation’s non-fare revenue.
APSRTC Executive Directors K.S. Brahmananda Reddy (Administration), G.V. Ravi Varma (Engineering), A. Appala Raju (Operations) and others were present.
Published – February 03, 2026 12:52 pm IST
