Hyderabad, 19 February (HS): Telangana State Road Transport Corporation will introduce “Mahalakshmi smart cards” to replace the use of Aadhaar cards for issuing zero-fare tickets in buses under the free travel scheme.
The cards will be launched as a pilot in selected mandals from March 1 before being implemented across the state. Officials said the smart card system is expected to address technical issues faced by conductors and prevent misuse of the scheme through fake Aadhaar cards.
Each card will carry an embedded chip that can be tapped on intelligent ticket issuing machines (iTIM) to generate zero tickets. Women beneficiaries will have to apply for the cards online or at designated centres using Aadhaar verification and a photograph.
The new system will also enable authorities to track the number of free trips and identify high-traffic routes more accurately. Since the scheme began on December 9, 2023, about 255 crore free journeys have been recorded, with daily ridership of women increasing significantly. Officials said the scheme has helped women save up to Rs 5,000 per month on travel expenses.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Indrani Sarkar
