Daijiworld Media Network – Kasargod

Kasargod, Jun 14: The 'Priyadarshini' scheme, a major electoral promise of the UDF government providing free bus travel for women, is set to be implemented in Kasargod district from Monday, June 15. Women will be able to avail of the free travel facility from 9:00 am onwards across 75 Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus services in the district.

In a significant move, this benefit will also extend to Kerala KSRTC interstate buses operating on the Kasargod-Mangaluru, Kasargod-Sullia, and Kasargod-Puttur routes. The inclusion of town-to-town, limited stop, and ordinary buses under this scheme is expected to benefit a vast number of women commuters.

On the busy Kasargod-Mangaluru route alone, Kerala KSRTC buses operate a total of 139 trips daily, commencing from 4 am. The initiative will offer major financial relief to female students and working women who commute daily between Kasargod and various regions of coastal Karnataka, including Mangaluru, Puttur, and Sullia.

Chief minister V D Satheesan will launch the scheme at the state level. The district-level launch will take place at 9:00 am in Kasargod, where MLA Kallatra Mahin Haji will officially inaugurate the service, while MLA A K M Ashraf will inaugurate the facility in Uppala. To mark the historic occasion, UDF workers have announced plans to distribute sweets to the public, anticipating a widespread enthusiastic response to the rollout.