Buldhana: 1.3 million elderly avail free bus travel under Amrit scheme in 8 months

Buldhana

The Amrit free travel pass scheme run by the State Transport (ST) Corporation is getting a strong response from elderly citizens above 75 years of age in Buldhana. Over the past 8 months, 13,43,172 passengers from the Buldhana depot have availed the benefit of the scheme, it has emerged. The ST Corporation's motto is "Bahujan Hitay, Bahujan Sukhay", and the scheme was launched with the aim of giving elderly citizens a chance to travel comfortably and with dignity.

Earlier, as they grew older, elderly citizens wished to visit temples or meet relatives, but were unable to bear the cost of travel due to tight budgets, and had to keep their wishes to themselves. The ST Corporation has offered them major relief by implementing the Amrit free travel scheme for citizens above 75 years of age. With free travel now available on Lalpari buses, elderly citizens have found moments of joy in their lives, whether meeting relatives, visiting religious places or travelling for personal work.

The scheme has become a major support especially for elderly citizens in villages, since the ST bus remains the main means for most people to travel from villages to taluka and district headquarters. Along with giving economic relief to elderly citizens, the scheme is also playing an important role in keeping them connected to the mainstream of society. Because of free travel, elderly citizens are now travelling with greater confidence, and the satisfaction and happiness visible on their faces is the real mark of the scheme's success.

Elderly citizens above 75 no longer have any worry about travelling anywhere in the state for temple visits, since free travel to religious places is available under the Transport Department's Amrit free travel scheme, removing financial concerns and drawing a good response from elderly citizens for ST's comfortable travel.

The ST Corporation is also running several other schemes such as Mahila Sanman and Amrit Jyeshtha, and passengers need to have an NCMC card to avail these. These free schemes of ST are seeing rising numbers of women and elderly citizens.

Elderly resident Janardan Pawar said travelling by private vehicle for temple visits used to involve extra expense. Despite wanting to visit religious places, he could not do so for lack of budget, but the Transport Department's Amrit free travel scheme has made the journey to temples easier.

Buldhana Divisional Controller Shubhangi Shirsat said that through the Sanman, Amrit and other schemes for elderly citizens, the ST Corporation is reimbursed by the government for the travel expenses incurred by citizens.