Hyderabad: Free bus scheme boosts RTC performance, Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar said on Wednesday, accusing opposition leaders of spreading misinformation about the initiative. He said the scheme significantly improved occupancy and strengthened public transport services.
Responding to questions in the Legislative Council, the Minister alleged that opposition leaders indirectly opposed the free travel scheme for women. He said they circulated misleading content on social media, portraying women in a derogatory manner. According to him, such narratives falsely depicted women as quarrelling over the scheme.
He said the free bus scheme boosts RTC by increasing occupancy from 69% to 98%. As a result, the initiative improved women’s mobility and created better income opportunities. He added that the scheme strengthened both access to transport and economic participation.
Free bus scheme boosts RTC finances and reforms
Ponnam Prabhakar highlighted financial improvements within the corporation. He said RTC reduced its dues from Rs.664 crore to Rs.300 crore. Similarly, provident fund arrears dropped from Rs.1,350 crore to Rs.600 crore.
In addition, the corporation added 2,708 new buses to its fleet. Authorities are also filling 3,038 vacancies to strengthen operations. These measures, he said, improved service delivery and operational capacity.
The Minister stated that the ‘Mahalakshmi’ scheme has placed RTC on a path to profitability. He added that the government continues to introduce reforms to stabilise the organisation financially.
Ponnam Prabhakar said the government is introducing welfare measures for auto drivers and RTC staff. He noted that officials are currently designing a special scheme for their benefit.
Moreover, he said the government remains committed to strengthening public transport while supporting workers in the sector. He maintained that the free bus scheme and contributes to broader social and economic goals.
The Minister reiterated that opposition criticism lacked factual basis. He said the scheme delivered measurable improvements in occupancy, finances and public service.