AP to allot free bus travel for women on Aug. 15, approves concessional land allotment to IT parks, GCCs

Andhra Pradesh Cabinet has decided to roll out free APSRTC travel for women under Stri Shakti programme, one of the major promises under the Super Six Guarantees by the TDP-led coalition from August 15 and approve AP Land Initiatives and Tech Hubs (LIFT) Policy.

The decisions were taken at the Cabinet meeting held at Velagapudi Secretariat on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, The Chief Minister directed the Ministers to adjust their time as per the Independence Day celebrations and take part in the launching of free travel for women scheme across the State.

Free travel in RTC buses will entail an additional burden of Rs.1940 crore per annum on the State exchequer. Each family as per a government estimate will save around Rs.800 to Rs.1,000 per month. About 75% of the total 11,400 buses run by APSRTC will extend the scheme. The scheme is available for Palle Velugu, Ultra Palle Velugu, city ordinary, metro and express. Non-stop, deluxe and super luxury are not open for free travel.

Following concerns exprressed by autorickshaw drivers in Telangana, Delhi and other States following introduction of free travel for women, the Chief Minister advised the officials concerned to hold meeting with them to address their fears. Identity cards like Aadhar, PAN and voters' ID cards need to be produced for availing of free bus travel. Information and Public Relations Minister Kolusu Parthasarathy during a media briefing later said the government will provide 100% subsidy to the APSRTC

Stating that Andhrap Pradesh suffered heavily after bifurcation for losing Hyderabad, he said Hyderabad itself has IT turnover of Rs.1 lakh crore to Rs.1.5 lakh crore compared Rs..3 lakh crtore to Rs.4 lakh crore, wehreas entire Andhra Pradesh is earnign just Rs.5,000 crore to Rs.10,000 crore.

To encoruage flight of investments from other States due to congestion, the State Government has decided to offer lands at concessional rate along with slew of incentives under the LIFT policy to encoruage investments in IT parks and Global Capability Centres (GCC). He said the land allotment will have conditions like employment creation and launching of operations within a stipulated time along with investment criterion for anchor players.

The Cabinet decided to allow APIIC to seek loans worth Rs.7,500 crore for infrastrucurree development and land acquisition, new excise policy from September 1, allowing allotment of bars through lottery and opening of permit rooms at IMFL shops. Bars will be allowed to open from 10 am to 11 pm with closure of sales at 10 pm.

To encourage effective management of hotels at tourist places like Visakhapatnam and Araku, a RFP was approved tor outstourcing to organisations of repute. In the first phase, 22 properties were identified. It was also decided to crutal the number of accredited journalists by half in consultation with the stakeholders.