Ministers Travel With Commuters, Stress RTC Expansion and Welfare

In a bid to connect directly with commuters and assess public transport services on the ground, Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar and Social Welfare Minister Adluri Laxman Kumar travelled in a TGSRTC bus from Vageshwari Engineering College in Karimnagar to the NTR Statue Junction on Wednesday.

The ministers spent time interacting with students and fellow passengers during the journey, listening to their experiences and gathering feedback on bus services. The initiative reflected the government's effort to stay connected with citizens and understand their day-to-day concerns firsthand.

Speaking during the trip, Ponnam Prabhakar said the state government has increased the number of buses operating during school and college hours to accommodate rising passenger demand. He noted that the RTC has also inducted new buses into its fleet following a significant surge in ridership under the Mahalakshmi Scheme , which offers free bus travel to women across Telangana.

According to the minister, the scheme has emerged as a major financial relief for women, helping many save between ₹2,000 and ₹3,000 every month on transportation expenses. He said the initiative has not only improved mobility but has also strengthened the RTC by bringing more people into the public transport network.

Prabhakar asserted that the government led by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy is focused on expanding and modernizing public transport services. He alleged that the previous administration had weakened the RTC, while the current government is introducing services on new routes and taking steps to improve operational efficiency.

The minister also highlighted efforts to address long-pending issues faced by RTC employees. He said the process for workers' union elections has already begun and that the elected representatives would soon be integrated into the official consultative framework. RTC drivers and conductors, he added, have welcomed the government's initiatives on employee welfare, including plans related to the Pay Revision Commission (PRC) .

Urging RTC staff to maintain a passenger-friendly approach, Prabhakar stressed the importance of treating commuters with courtesy and ensuring a comfortable travel experience.

The ministers also used the occasion to showcase the government's broader welfare agenda. Prabhakar pointed to measures such as enhanced support for Gurukul schools , the introduction of pre-primary education in government institutions, and the rollout of the Breakfast Milk Scheme . He further highlighted flagship programmes including 200 units of free electricity , ₹500 LPG cylinders , Rythu Bharosa , farm loan waivers, new ration cards, and large-scale recruitment drives, describing them as part of a governance model focused on improving the lives of ordinary citizens.