Stree Shakti gives women free bus travel in Andhra Pradesh — but not on every bus. The scheme covers five APSRTC service types, and the premium services are not included. If you board the wrong service, you pay the full fare. This guide lists exactly which buses are free, which are not, and what to show the conductor.
The rule is simple: if the bus is an ordinary or express service, it is free for women. If it is an air-conditioned or premium service, it is not. The list below is the official position under G.O.Ms.No.27, dated 11 August 2025, and the scheme has been running since 15 August 2025.
Key Facts
| Scheme | Stree Shakti, G.O.Ms.No.27 dated 11 August 2025 |
| Launched | 15 August 2025 |
| Who travels free | Girls, women and transgender persons domiciled in Andhra Pradesh |
| What to show | Photo ID — Aadhaar card or voter ID — to the conductor |
| Application or pass | None needed; a zero-fare ticket is issued on the bus |
| Budget 2026-27 | Rs.1,420 crore |
Buses That Are FREE for Women
| Service | What it is |
| Pallevelugu | Village-to-town ordinary service, the most common rural bus |
| Ultra Pallevelugu | Ordinary service on longer rural and inter-district routes |
| City Ordinary | Ordinary service inside cities and towns |
| Metro Express | Express service on city and metro routes |
| Express | Express service between towns and district headquarters |
These five services cover the buses most women use every day — to school, to college, to work, to the market and to the hospital. On any of them, show your photo ID to the conductor and you get a zero-fare ticket. You do not need a pass, and you do not need to apply anywhere.
Buses That Are NOT Free
| Service | Why it is not free |
| AC services | Air-conditioned buses are premium services, outside the scheme |
| Super Luxury | Premium long-distance service, not covered |
| Ultra Deluxe | Premium long-distance service, not covered |
| Star Liner | Premium service, not covered |
| Non-stop and interstate services | Not covered under Stree Shakti |
| Chartered services | Private hire, not covered |
| Saptagiri Express | Tirumala ghat route service, not covered |
On these services, women pay the normal fare, just like everyone else. The Saptagiri Express catches many people out — it runs the Tirumala ghat route, and it is not free even though it looks like an ordinary express bus. If you are travelling to Tirupati or Tirumala, check the service name on the bus board before boarding.
How to Travel Free
- Board a bus on one of the five free services — Pallevelugu, Ultra Pallevelugu, City Ordinary, Metro Express or Express.
- Show a photo ID to the conductor. Your Aadhaar card or voter ID is enough. The ID proves you are domiciled in Andhra Pradesh.
- The conductor issues a zero-fare ticket. Keep it until you get off — it is your proof of travel.
- That is all. There is no application form, no pass to buy, and no registration. Anyone who asks you to pay for a Stree Shakti pass or registration is trying to cheat you.
Other APSRTC Concessions (Not Stree Shakti)
APSRTC also runs separate concession passes that have nothing to do with Stree Shakti. Students below 12 years of age, and girl students up to Class X, can get free bus passes. Senior citizens aged 60 and above get a 25% concession on fares. These passes are issued at the depot — take your Aadhaar card, and a SADAREM or disability certificate where relevant, and ask at the depot counter.
Stree Shakti: How the Zero-Fare Ticket Works
Travelling free under Stree Shakti needs no card, no pass and no application. Board a bus on one of the five free services, show a photo ID — your Aadhaar card or voter ID — to the conductor, and the conductor issues a zero-fare ticket. Keep the ticket until you get off, because it is your proof of travel.
If a conductor asks for a fare on a free service, show your photo ID and ask for the zero-fare ticket. If the conductor still refuses, note the bus number and the depot, and complain at the depot or on the APSRTC helpline 0866 2570005. The fare printed on your ticket tells you which service it was — some buses carry an ‘Express’ board but run as a premium service, and those are not free. The APSRTC website at https://www.apsrtc.ap.gov.in lists the corporation’s services.
Stree Shakti: Student Passes and Senior Citizen Concessions
The concession passes APSRTC issues are separate from Stree Shakti and work differently. Students below 12 years of age, and girl students up to Class X, can get free bus passes — but the passes are issued only up to 30th September each year, so apply early. Senior citizens aged 60 and above get a 25% concession on fares. These passes are issued at the depot, so take your Aadhaar card, and a SADAREM or disability certificate where relevant, and ask at the depot counter.
A PWD application form is available on the APSRTC bus pass portal at https://buspassonline.apsrtconline.in, which also lists the pass types. Do not confuse these passes with Stree Shakti: the free travel for women under Stree Shakti needs no pass at all, while the student and senior citizen concessions are pass-based and have their own rules and dates.
Stree Shakti: How It Fits the Super Six
Stree Shakti is one of the six promises the TDP-led alliance made before the 2024 election. It was launched on 15 August 2025 under G.O.Ms.No.27 dated 11 August 2025, after Deepam 2.0 (3 free LPG cylinders a year, launched 31 October 2024), Talliki Vandanam (Rs.15,000 per child a year, launched 12 June 2025) and Annadata Sukhibhava (Rs.20,000 a year per farmer family, launched 2 August 2025). The state Budget 2026-27 set aside Rs.1,420 crore for it. Read the full status of all six promises at https://unqinformation.com/super-six-promises-status-2026-which-ap-schemes-are-launched-and-which-are-still-pending/.
Two promises are still pending: Aadabidda Nidhi, Rs.1,500 a month for women aged 19 to 59, and the 20 lakh jobs in five years or Rs.3,000 a month unemployment allowance. Neither has been launched as of November 2026, and there is no portal or application for either. For the full Stree Shakti guide — who travels free, what ID to show and what is not covered — read https://unqinformation.com/stree-shakti-scheme-2026-free-bus-travel-for-women-in-andhra-pradesh-complete-guide/, and more about the state government’s schemes is on the AP government portal at https://www.ap.gov.in.
Common Confusions
Charged on an Express bus? Check the service type printed on your ticket and on the bus board. Some buses carry an “Express” board but run as a premium service. The fare printed on the ticket tells you which service it was.
Conductor asked for a fare on a free service? Show your photo ID and ask for a zero-fare ticket. If the conductor still refuses, note the bus number and the depot, and complain at the depot or on the APSRTC helpline 0866 2570005.
Men travelling with you? Stree Shakti covers girls, women and transgender persons only. Men travelling on the same bus pay the normal fare.
FAQ
Do I need a pass for Stree Shakti?
No. Show a photo ID — Aadhaar card or voter ID — to the conductor, and you get a zero-fare ticket on the bus.
Is it free on all APSRTC buses?
No. Only Pallevelugu, Ultra Pallevelugu, City Ordinary, Metro Express and Express services are free. AC, Super Luxury, Ultra Deluxe, Star Liner, non-stop, interstate, chartered services and the Saptagiri Express are not free.
Are men covered?
No. Stree Shakti covers girls, women and transgender persons domiciled in Andhra Pradesh.
What ID should I carry?
Your Aadhaar card or voter ID. Either one is accepted as photo ID.
Read also: Stree Shakti Scheme 2026: Free Bus Travel for Women in Andhra Pradesh — Complete Guide · AP Indradhanassu Scheme 2026: Reality Check on Free RTC Bus Travel & APSRTC Concession Passes · Deepam 2.0 Scheme: 3 Free LPG Cylinders a Year — Eligibility, Subsidy Refund & Status Check
Stree Shakti is a big saving for women who travel by bus every day — but only on the five covered services. Check the service name before you board, carry your photo ID, and take the zero-fare ticket. On a premium service, the fare is payable in full.
Last updated: November 2026