The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has issued an official statement aimed at quelling growing public confusion regarding the implementation of the “Priyadarshini” free travel scheme in Thiruvananthapuram. Amidst public discourse surrounding the eligibility of various bus categories for the subsidy, the corporation clarified that the scheme is strictly limited to ordinary bus services. According to the KSRTC, the Priyadarshini scheme was never intended to encompass City Fast services, as these operate under a separate classification and fare structure within the capital district.
To provide transparency regarding current operations, KSRTC disclosed that there are currently 687 ordinary services running throughout the district, compared to 384 City Fast buses. The distinction between the two is rooted in operational efficiency; City Fast buses are designated to have fewer stops than ordinary services, allowing for faster transit times for commuters. Because of this specialized high-speed service model, the corporation maintains that City Fast buses fall outside the government’s mandate for the free travel initiative.
The KSRTC has taken proactive measures to ensure that passengers can differentiate between eligible and ineligible vehicles without difficulty. Officials have confirmed that clear, distinct stickers have been placed on the front and at the entrance doors of all buses. These markings explicitly categorize each vehicle as either an ordinary service, eligible for the free travel scheme, or a City Fast service, which remains excluded. This visual identification system was implemented to prevent any misunderstandings among women passengers who are the primary beneficiaries of the government travel subsidy.
Addressing the technical disparities between the two service types, the corporation highlighted that the fare structures remain fundamentally different. As per an official government notification dated April 30, 2022, City Fast services maintain a minimum fare of Rs 12 with a rate of Rs 1.03 per kilometer. In contrast, ordinary city buses reflect a lower threshold, with a minimum fare of Rs 10 and a rate of Rs 1 per kilometer. This price sensitivity underscores why the free travel benefit is confined strictly to the more affordable ordinary service tier.
The corporation emphasized that the exclusion of City Fast services is not a recent or arbitrary decision, but rather the result of detailed surveys and rigorous assessments conducted prior to the launch of the Priyadarshini scheme. Recognizing that Thiruvananthapuram is the only urban center in Kerala where such a large volume of City Fast buses operates alongside standard ordinary services, the KSRTC ensured that these policy delineations were mapped out well in advance to avoid service overlaps and administrative complications.
Finally, the KSRTC categorically rejected persistent allegations circulating on social media and in some news outlets that the department has been systematically converting ordinary services into City Fast buses solely to deny passengers the benefit of the free travel scheme. Labeling these claims as entirely baseless, the management has urged the public to disregard such misinformation. The KSRTC maintains that all service classification changes are guided by operational necessity and public utility, and they have encouraged commuters to rely exclusively on official announcements regarding the status and scope of the Priyadarshini scheme.
