Women Can Now Enjoy Free Bus Travel to Tirumala Under APSRTC’s Stree Shakti Scheme

Under the Shree Shakti scheme, women can now enjoy free bus travel to Tirumala from anywhere in Andhra Pradesh. Here are the documents needed.

The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) has now added the Tirumala hill route to the Stree Shakti scheme that allows free bus rides for women.

This has brought great relief to women pilgrims, as women now get to travel for free to Tirumala. The route was earlier left out because of safety issues on the ghat road.

Earlier, APSRTC limited free rides on this road as only seated travelers could be allowed on the serpentine hill road. One-way ticket to Tirumala is ₹90 and a round trip is ₹160, which is quite a cost for most pilgrims.

Free Bus Travel for Women in Andhra Pradesh: Stree Shakti Scheme Explained

Relief for Female Pilgrims

• A one-way Tirumala ticket costs ₹90, with a round trip at ₹160.
• The inclusion of the route is expected to greatly benefit thousands of women pilgrims who travel daily to the hill shrine.
• Frequent Saptagiri Express services will continue to connect Tirupati Railway Station, RTC Bus Station, Sri Padmavathi Bus Station, and Balaji Link Bus Station to Tirumala
• Buses will travel every 10 minutes from 3:30 am to 11:30 pm.

What Documents Will Be Required For Women To Enjoy Free Bus Travel To Tirumala

For women to enjoy free bus travel to Tirumala, any of the following documents will suffice:

• Voter ID
• Aadhaar
• Ration Card
• Driving License

Women can directly board the bus and show any of the above documents to the conductor to avail the free travel benefit. One important point to note here is that only original documents will be accepted; photocopies or digital versions of the documents will be considered invalid.

Official Announcement By APSRTC Chairman

Konakalla Narayana Rao, APSRTC Chairman, announced the decision on Tuesday while inspecting bus stands at Avanigadda and Challapalli.

He was accompanied by MLA Mandali Buddha Prasad. He also reviewed facilities at the Machilipatnam bus stand with Excise Minister Kollu Ravindra.

The chairman highlighted the scheme’s massive reach. He stated that 43 lakh women have already availed the Stree Shakti free travel service. 

On average, the program saves women an estimated ₹6.30 crore per day, benefiting those visiting hospitals, temples, and workplaces.

“I spend around ₹5,000 every month on my daily commute. I am thankful to the government that they have included this route under the Shree Shakti scheme. It comes as a huge relief for women like us who works in the shrine,” says Revathi Amma, a daily commuter.

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Wider Impact of the Scheme

• Social Impact: Women from rural and urban regions are increasingly able to access essential services.
• Economic Impact: Families will be able to save substantially on transport costs. This will particularly benefit daily wage workers and small traders.
• Pilgrim Benefit: For Tirumala-bound devotees, the move ensures inclusivity and equal access under the scheme.

With the inclusion of the Tirumala ghat route, APSRTC has addressed one of the biggest gaps in the Stree Shakti scheme. This move makes the scheme more comprehensive and impactful for women across Andhra Pradesh.