Telangana budgets ₹4,305 crore for TGSRTC

The Telangana government has allocated ₹4,305 crore to the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC). This funding supports various transport initiatives, including the Mahalaxmi Scheme. The scheme allows women and transgender individuals to travel for free on buses. During his budget speech, Finance Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka highlighted the scheme's success. He noted that it has provided 149.63 crore free trips across 7,227 buses, saving beneficiaries a total of ₹5,005.95 crore. Out of the total allocation, ₹3,082.53 crore is specifically for the Mahalaxmi Scheme. The budget for TGSRTC also draws funds from other departments, similar to previous years. However, there were no funds allocated for bus pass reimbursements. The Deputy Chief Minister pointed out that bus occupancy has improved significantly, rising from 69% to 94% in some cases, with certain routes reaching full occupancy. In addition to increasing bus numbers, the government has created 6,400 new jobs in the transport sector. However, some unions have expressed dissatisfaction with the budget. They feel the allocations for TGSRTC are insufficient and raised concerns about the lack of funding for student bus pass subsidies.