KSRTC staff will face action if free tickets are issued to men on Priyadarshini buses, says Kerala Transport Minister C.P. John

“Such violations will not be allowed to continue. Strict action will be taken against employees who issue free tickets to men,” he said.

Mr. John stressed that the Priyadarshini free travel scheme was not a KSRTC initiative, but a government programme aimed at women empowerment, and therefore must be implemented strictly in accordance with the rules.

The Minister also said the KSRTC has decided to hire private buses during festival seasons to meet the increased travel demand. He noted that the corporation had not purchased new buses over the past 10 years, leaving much of its fleet outdated. He appealed to private bus owners to cooperate by making the buses available during peak seasons.

On Regional Transport Office (RTO) services, Mr. John said discussion with officials had led to a decision to extend public access hours. At present, many offices do not entertain visitors after 1 p.m. Under the revised arrangement, members of the public will be able to meet officials between 4p.m. and 5 p.m. in addition to the usual timings. He said the move would particularly benefit people travelling long distances to avail the RTO services.