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Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 9 (IANS) In a landmark welfare initiative, the Kerala government on Thursday announced free travel for all cancer patients up to super fast category in buses run by the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC).
This latest announcement comes at a time when the state’s economic review to 2024 highlighted that cancer is one of the leading non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Kerala.
It also revealed that cancer deaths among men in the state were much higher than the national average.
Local body elections are going to be held in Kerala soon, while assembly elections will be held in April/May next year.
The announcement was made in the Assembly by Transport Minister KB Ganesh Kumar, who said the decision would be implemented immediately.
The scheme will also benefit patients traveling to private hospitals for treatment, ensuring that the financial burden of travel does not become a barrier to accessing care.
“The KSRTC board of directors will approve and implement the decision today itself,” the minister told the House.
The announcement came amid uproar from the opposition, but the minister spoke sharply, criticizing the disruption.
He said, “For the opposition, this may not seem significant. They shouted ‘shame’ when it was announced. But for patients and their families, this is a significant relief.”
The welfare announcement comes after KSRTC’s strong operational performance.
On 6 October, the corporation earned Rs 9.41 crore in daily ticket revenue, the second highest in its history.
Its best collection till date was Rs 10.19 crore recorded on September 8, 2025.
The free travel initiative for cancer patients is another step in KSRTC’s endeavor to link social responsibility with operational sustainability, positioning the state-run transporter as both a welfare driver and a financially flexible public utility.
The crude cancer incidence rate in Kerala is the highest in India, with an estimated 88,460 new cases annually, projected to reach nearly 90,000 by 2030.
Breast cancer is the leading cancer in women, while lung cancer is most common in men.
–IANS
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