Mahalakshmi Scheme Gets Smart Upgrade: Telangana Plans Common Mobility Cards for Women

Hyderabad: In a major digital push, the Telangana government is planning significant changes to the Mahalakshmi free bus travel scheme for women, with a strong focus on technology, transparency, and convenience. The state aims to introduce smart cards, officially called Common Mobility Cards, for women across Telangana.

This move is expected to transform the Mahalakshmi scheme into a technology-driven public transport model, making travel easier while laying the foundation for a wider digital ecosystem.

Smart Cards to Replace Aadhaar for Daily Travel

Under the new plan, women beneficiaries of the Mahalakshmi scheme will receive smart cards that will act as a digital travel identity.

Key highlights of the smart card system:

• No need to carry Aadhaar cards during bus travel
• Every journey recorded digitally for transparency
• Faster and smoother boarding in RTC buses
• Designed as a multi-purpose digital wallet

Officials from Telangana State Road Transport Corporation are actively working on integrating advanced technology into the public transport system.

Agreement Signed for Common Mobility Cards

The Telangana government has already signed an agreement with the Centre for Good Governance for the development and implementation of Common Mobility Cards.

These cards are not limited to free bus travel alone.

Bus, Metro, and MMTS Travel with One Card

With the Common Mobility Card:

• Women can travel free in RTC buses under the Mahalakshmi scheme
• The same card can be used for Hyderabad Metro Rail and MMTS by adding cash balance
• One card will support multiple transport modes

This unified approach is expected to reduce confusion and improve daily commuting for lakhs of women.

Future Plans: Ration, Health & Welfare Services

The government is also planning to link other welfare schemes to the same smart card in the future, including:

• Ration services
• Health-related benefits
• Other state-run welfare programs

If implemented fully, the Common Mobility Card could become a single digital key for accessing multiple government services.

More Buses, Better Planning in Crowded Areas

Based on digitally recorded journey data:

• RTC plans to deploy more buses in high-demand routes
• Passenger flow will be analyzed scientifically
• Crowded areas will receive better connectivity and frequency

The government believes this data-driven approach will improve efficiency and reduce inconvenience.

255 Crore Free Rides, ₹8,500 Crore Support to RTC

So far, the Mahalakshmi scheme has enabled over 255 crore free bus rides for women across Telangana. To support the scheme’s smooth functioning, the government has sanctioned ₹8,500 crore to RTC.

Officials say the introduction of smart cards will further strengthen financial transparency and operational planning.

Beginning of a Digital Revolution in Telangana

The proposed Common Mobility Card system is being seen as the start of a digital revolution in Telangana’s public transport sector. If expanded to all citizens in the future, it could redefine how people access transport and welfare services across the state.

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