The Shakti scheme for free bus travel was recently launched in Karnataka, and it has already seen a significant uptake among women passengers. According to the transport department, over 5.71 lakh women passengers availed the scheme on the first day alone, travelling for free in state-run buses between 1 pm and 12 am in the midnight. The Bengaluru Metro Transport Corporation alone saw over 2 lakh women using the free travel benefit.
The four transportation corporations in the state collectively estimated the cost of the 5.7 lakh free tickets offered on the first day to be around Rs. 1,40,22,878. The scheme is expected to see even more women using it in the coming days, and the government has urged female passengers to apply for Shakti smart cards to take advantage of the free travel service.
The CM and deputy CM of Karnataka personally conducted a bus, using them as a mode of transport. They issued free tickets to women passengers for the journey from Bengaluru to Dharmasthala at the Majestic bus station. In other districts and constituencies, district in-charge ministers and legislators launched the scheme simultaneously.
The transport department estimates that the scheme will benefit over 41.8 lakh women passengers every day and will cost the state exchequer an annual amount of approximately Rs. 4,051.56 crore. With more women expected to use the scheme, the hope is that it will lead to increased mobility and empowerment for female passengers.
