Seated by the window, S. Radhakrishnan looked bemused. He sat alongside a group of excited women passengers who had boarded the KSRTC bus the moment its doors opened at the Ernakulam Boat Jetty bus stand.
The 73-year-old from Haryana had come home on vacation and was on a pilgrimage to Guruvayur. Little did he know that the bus he boarded would become part of a celebration, complete with an unplanned ride through the city.
Packed to capacity, passengers found themselves pressed against strangers as they exchanged sweets and conversation. Women squeezed into the limited space with little complaint on the opening day of the Priyadarshini bus service, marking the district-level launch of the UDF government’s free bus travel scheme for women and transgender persons.
A KSRTC conductor hands over the first free ticket to Mayor V.K. Minimol during the inaugural journey marking the district-level launch of the State government’s free travel scheme for women in Kochi on Monday. Hibi Eden, MP, and T.J. Vinod, MLA, are also seen. | Photo Credit: R.K. Nithin
On Monday (June 15, 2026) morning, the city’s political and civic leaders found themselves aboard the bus. MP Hibi Eden, Ernakulam MLA T.J. Vinod and Mayor V.K. Minimol huddled together with party workers, media personnel and regular passengers. The bus conductor, S. Sandhya, had a key role to play. She issued zero-fare tickets, allowing women and transgender persons to travel free on KSRTC Ordinary buses. “Why isn’t the bus moving?” some passengers wondered aloud. “They are waiting for the State-level inauguration,” someone called out.
The bus eventually rolled out amid cheers, with passengers waving at people along the route. Ms. Sandhya handed the first zero-fare ticket to Ms. Minimol. As the bus made its way through the city, women took selfies, recorded videos and shared them on social media.
Ambika Puliyedath, who regularly travels to her home in Chavakkad, Thrissur, spends about ₹220 a day on transport alone. “By the end of the month, I have to borrow money just to travel to work. This move will be of great help,” she said.
After the brief detour, the bus returned to the stand. Passengers bound for Guruvayur stayed put, while others got off. “It felt like a small excursion,” said Lulu Nafeesath, a transwoman.
Published - June 15, 2026 07:24 pm IST
Source: The Hindu - India News
