Mahashivratri Gift: APSRTC Announces Free Bus Travel for Women in Festival Special Services Under 'Stree Shakti' Scheme

The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) has shared good news regarding the 'Stree Shakti' scheme, which provides free bus travel for women. Officials have announced that this scheme will also be applicable to the special buses being operated for the upcoming Mahashivratri festival. On the occasion of Mahashivratri on February 15, special services are being arranged to accommodate the rush of devotees to prominent Shiva temples across the state, and women can travel for free in these buses as well. Extensive arrangements have been made particularly for the Kotappakonda Trikoteswara Swamy shrine in Palnadu district. RTC officials stated that a total of 618 special buses are being made available for devotees, which is an increase of 70 buses compared to last year. To ensure a smooth journey for passengers, approximately 2,000 staff members have been deployed for duty. These special buses will operate from depots in Narasaraopet, Vinukonda, Sattenapalli, Addanki, and Chirala. Additionally, a special RTC camp office has been set up at Petlurivaripalem for the convenience of travelers. The authorities also provided details regarding the fares for these special services. The fare from Narasaraopet to Kotappakonda is fixed at ₹30, while the charge from the foot of the hill to the top is ₹25. However, it was explicitly clarified that women can travel in these buses without any ticket, free of cost. Furthermore, special arrangements have been made for the Mahashivratri Brahmotsavams at Srisailam. Special buses are being operated from five depots in Kurnool district to Srisailam. In addition to setting up a special counter at the Kurnool bus station, drinking water facilities have been provided in view of the rising temperatures. These services are also available for devotees who travel by bus from Kurnool to Venkatapuram and then proceed on foot through the forest path to Srisailam. Overall, APSRTC has made comprehensive arrangements for devotees, especially women passengers, traveling to various Shaiva Kshetras for Mahashivratri.