Stree Shakti Scheme 2026 gives women free bus travel across Andhra Pradesh. Since 15 August 2025, girls, women and transgender persons domiciled in the state can travel free on APSRTC’s ordinary services — no pass, no form and no fee. This guide explains which buses are free, which are not, what to show the conductor, and how the zero-fare ticket works.
The scheme was launched on 15 August 2025 under G.O.Ms.No.27, dated 11 August 2025. The state Budget 2026-27 has set aside Rs.1,420 crore for it. It is one of the Super Six promises, and it is already running — not a promise for later.
Key Facts
| Particular | Detail |
|---|---|
| Scheme | Stree Shakti Scheme 2026 — free bus travel for women |
| Launched | 15 August 2025 (G.O.Ms.No.27, dated 11 August 2025) |
| Who can travel free | Girls, women and transgender persons domiciled in Andhra Pradesh |
| Fare | Zero-fare ticket issued on the bus |
| What to show | Photo ID — Aadhaar or voter ID — to the conductor |
| Application or pass | None needed |
| Budget 2026-27 | Rs.1,420 crore |
Stree Shakti Scheme 2026: Which Buses Are Free
Free travel applies on these APSRTC services within Andhra Pradesh: Pallevelugu, Ultra Pallevelugu, City Ordinary, Metro Express and Express. These are the everyday services most women use — village to town, town to district headquarters, and city to city.
- Pallevelugu
- Ultra Pallevelugu
- City Ordinary
- Metro Express
- Express
Most daily travel in Andhra Pradesh happens on these five services. A woman going from her village to the nearest town for work, a girl going to school, or a mother taking a child to a hospital — all of them use Pallevelugu or Express buses. That is why the scheme covers these services first: they carry the most women every day.
Stree Shakti Scheme 2026: Which Buses Are NOT Free
Free travel does NOT apply on premium and special services. You must buy a ticket on AC services, Super Luxury and Ultra Deluxe services, Star Liner services, non-stop and interstate services, chartered services, and the Saptagiri Express on the Tirumala ghat route.
If you are unsure whether your bus is covered, ask the conductor before boarding — the service name is written on the bus and on the ticket. The full list of free and paid services is in our guide to which APSRTC buses are free for women and which are not.
Interstate journeys are not free — if your bus crosses into another state, the fare applies from the border. The same rule applies to chartered buses hired for a group: the hirer pays the fare. If your journey is entirely within Andhra Pradesh on a covered service, it is free.
Stree Shakti Scheme 2026: How to Travel Free — Step by Step
- Board any Pallevelugu, Ultra Pallevelugu, City Ordinary, Metro Express or Express bus running within Andhra Pradesh.
- Show a photo ID to the conductor — your Aadhaar card or voter ID is enough.
- The conductor issues a zero-fare ticket. Keep it until you get down.
- There is no pass to apply for, no form to fill and no fee to pay.
Stree Shakti Scheme 2026: Who Can Travel Free
Free travel is for girls, women and transgender persons who are domiciled in Andhra Pradesh. There is no age limit and no income limit — a schoolgirl, a working woman and an elderly woman all travel free on the covered services.
Domicile is the only condition. The conductor may ask for a photo ID that shows you live in Andhra Pradesh — your Aadhaar card or voter ID is enough. Visitors from other states are not covered.
Carry a photo ID every time you travel — Aadhaar or voter ID. Without ID, the conductor can charge the fare, because he cannot verify that you are domiciled in Andhra Pradesh. A photocopy is usually accepted, but the original card is safer.
Stree Shakti Scheme 2026: How the Zero-Fare Ticket Works
Stree Shakti Scheme 2026 works on the bus itself — there is no card, no pass and no application to make. The conductor checks your ID and issues a zero-fare ticket, which is your proof of travel.
Keep the zero-fare ticket until you get down — it is your proof of travel if a ticket checker asks. Without the ticket, the checker may treat you as a passenger without a ticket.
If a conductor refuses a zero-fare ticket on a covered service, note the bus number and the time, and complain to the depot manager or through the APSRTC helpline. The scheme is a government order — a conductor cannot refuse it on a covered bus.
Stree Shakti Scheme 2026: Who Else Travels Free or at a Concession
Stree Shakti Scheme 2026 is not the only free or concessional travel on APSRTC buses. APSRTC also issues free passes to students below 12 and girl students up to Class X — apply for them on the APSRTC bus pass portal at https://buspassonline.apsrtconline.in.
Persons with disabilities have a separate application form on the same bus pass portal. If you are a student or a person with disability, check the portal for the pass that fits you — the free travel under Stree Shakti does not need a pass at all.
The bus pass portal also handles student passes and disability passes, so do not confuse those passes with Stree Shakti. A student pass is a separate benefit with its own rules; Stree Shakti needs no pass at all.
Stree Shakti Scheme 2026: What It Costs the State and How It Fits the Super Six
Stree Shakti Scheme 2026 was launched on 15 August 2025 under G.O.Ms.No.27, dated 11 August 2025, and the Budget 2026-27 provides Rs.1,420 crore for it. The money goes to APSRTC to cover the fares that women no longer pay.
The other Super Six promises work the same way for a family: Deepam 2.0 gives 3 free LPG cylinders a year, Talliki Vandanam gives Rs.15,000 a year per school-going child, and Annadata Sukhibhava gives Rs.20,000 a year to farmers. The Super Six status is explained in our guide. The AP government’s own portal carries the official information: https://www.ap.gov.in/
APSRTC runs the buses — its website is https://www.apsrtc.ap.gov.in. If a bus route or service changes, the APSRTC site and the depot notice board are the places to check.
If you travel every day, the saving adds up. A woman who used to pay bus fare every day for work, school or hospital visits now keeps that money in the family — for food, school fees or medicine. For a woman who works as a daily-wage labourer or a domestic worker, that saving is real income, not a small change.
Read also: Stree Shakti Buses — Free vs Paid List · AP Indradhanassu Scheme 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a pass or application for Stree Shakti?
No. There is no application and no pass. Show a photo ID to the conductor and you get a zero-fare ticket.
Which ID is accepted?
Aadhaar card or voter ID. Any government photo ID that proves you are domiciled in Andhra Pradesh works.
Is travel free on AC and Super Luxury buses?
No. AC, Super Luxury, Ultra Deluxe, Star Liner, non-stop, interstate, chartered services and the Saptagiri Express are not free — you must buy a ticket on them.
Is there an age or income limit?
No. All girls, women and transgender persons domiciled in Andhra Pradesh can travel free on the covered services.
Conclusion
Stree Shakti Scheme 2026 is a running scheme, not a promise. Since 15 August 2025, women in Andhra Pradesh have travelled free on APSRTC’s ordinary buses — no pass, no form, no fee. Carry a photo ID, board a covered service, and keep your zero-fare ticket until you get down.
Last updated: November 2026