Hyderabad: Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar said the free bus scheme boosted RTC performance and accused opposition leaders of spreading misinformation about the initiative.
While replying in the Legislative Council on Wednesday, he said the initiative increased occupancy levels and strengthened public transport services. He added that the programme improved accessibility for women across the state.
However, the Minister alleged that opposition leaders indirectly opposed the move. He said they circulated misleading content on social media and portrayed women in a derogatory manner.
According to him, such narratives falsely depicted women as quarrelling over the benefit. In contrast, he said the initiative improved both mobility and dignity for women passengers.
He stated that occupancy rose from 69% to 98% after implementation. As a result, it enhanced income opportunities and expanded access to transport services.
Free bus scheme improves RTC finances and capacity
Meanwhile, Ponnam Prabhakar highlighted financial gains within RTC. He said dues dropped from Rs.664 crore to Rs.300 crore, while provident fund arrears fell 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 and improve service delivery.
He said the ‘Mahalakshmi’ scheme placed RTC on a path to profitability. Moreover, he added that the government continued reforms to stabilise the organisation financially.
The Minister also announced welfare measures for auto drivers and RTC staff. He noted that officials were designing a special scheme for their benefit.
Furthermore, he said the government remained committed to strengthening public transport. He added that the initiative supported broader social and economic goals.
Finally, Ponnam Prabhakar reiterated that opposition criticism lacked factual basis. He said the programme delivered measurable improvements in occupancy, finances and public service.
