Karnataka's ‘free-bus' scheme nears 500-crore ticket milestone in just two years: Report
Also Read - DK Shivakumar not in a rush to become CM, says brother DK Suresh amid leadership speculation
Launched on June 11, 2023, the Shakti scheme is a flagship programme of the Congress government, aimed at enhancing women's access to public transport. The scheme allows free travel for women in non-luxury buses operated by KSRTC, BMTC, NWKRTC, and KKRTC. According to the report, more than 20,000 of the state's 25,000 buses now support free travel under the scheme. In June 2025 alone, over 73 lakh free tickets were issued each day, underlining the scheme's widespread adoption.
CM and Deputy CM to celebrate the mile stone
To commemorate the 500-crore milestone, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar are expected to participate in a symbolic ride by boarding a city bus and issuing free tickets to women passengers. Transport Minister R. Ramalinga Reddy added that district-level committees overseeing the guarantee schemes will mark the occasion with sweets and floral greetings at bus terminals across the state.
Also Read - 'Will they switch to metro?': Bengaluru man's post on women saving money via Shakti scheme stirs debate
The total cost of reimbursing the four state-run transport corporations has already exceeded ₹12,614 crore, with an estimated ₹2,750 crore in pending dues yet to be cleared. To keep up with the rising demand and ageing fleet, the state has sanctioned a ₹2,000 crore loan and has initiated the process of adding 5,800 new buses. In addition, 10,000 new staff are being recruited to support the scheme's growing scale, including 1,000 appointments on compassionate grounds.
The report further stated that the daily bus ridership has surged from around ₹85 lakh before the scheme to over ₹1 crore currently. The scheme's popularity has also been reflected in month-wise data, during its first month, 10 crore free tickets were issued at a cost of approximately ₹250 crore. By the second month, the figure had doubled to 20 crore tickets, costing around ₹453 crore.
Ridership hit a peak in May 2025, when over 22 crore tickets were issued in a single month, driving costs up to ₹670 crore. Officials attribute this spike partly to a fare hike in January 2025, which made free travel even more attractive.
The Shakti scheme was the first of five pre-poll guarantees implemented by the Congress government after its 2023 electoral win.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
27 minutes ago
- Time of India
Audio guidance system for blind people launched in Mysuru buses
Transport minister Ramalinga Reddy on Monday launched the Dwani Spandana service in KSRTC city buses in Mysuru, a step aimed at empowering blind passengers to travel independently. Speaking after launching the facility, he said, "This technology enables visually impaired commuters to board buses without assistance, using special audio guidance devices. While 125 buses in Bengaluru have already been fitted with the system, it has now been introduced in 200 city buses in Mysuru. Gradually, the facility will be extended to 7,000 KSRTC buses across Karnataka." He further noted that all newly procured KSRTC buses will be equipped with the system at the manufacturing stage itself. Narasimharaja MLA Tanveer Sait described the initiative as a progressive step in public transport: "It's encouraging that the transport department is leveraging information technology to support the visually impaired. Public transport must be accessible to everyone. The arrival of 500 pending electric buses in Shalthinur should also be expedited. DTOs and inspectors must assess public needs and improve connectivity, including introducing new routes." Anil, a blind passenger, shared his experience: "With this device, we can now board buses without seeking help. We have been trained to use it. By pressing the speaker button, we can select and board our required bus." Balakrishnan, professor at IIT Delhi, where this 'on-board' device was developed, said, "The primary objective is to enable public buses without any assistance. They faced two challenges: what is the route number of the bus, and they need to depend on others; second, they do not know where it comes from and where the door is. They need assistance to get into the bus. With this device, they need not depend on anybody." MLA GT Devegowda and Karnataka Guarantee Schemes Implementation Authority vice-president Pushpa Amaranath were present.
New Indian Express
30 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Odisha student who self-immolated over harassment inaction cremated; congress-led opposition calls bandh on 17th
NEW DELHI: The body of the college student who set herself ablaze following alleged sexual harassment by a professor reached her village in Odisha's Balasore district on Tuesday. The student's body was cremated in the presence of her family and other villagers. Thousands of people thronged the crematorium ground to attend her cremation. Balasore MP Pratap Sarangi, district officials and others walked to the crematorium ground from the house of the student. The 20-year-old second-year B. Ed student of Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College, Balasore had accused the Head of Education Department, Samira Kumar Sahu of sexually harassing her. She set herself on fire on Saturday on the college campus over alleged inaction against the professor and suffered 95 per cent burns. The woman was first admitted to the Balasore district hospital and then shifted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar for advanced treatment. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday announced ex gratia of Rs 20 lakh for the family of the student. Majhi directed officers concerned to conduct a proper investigation into the incident so that all guilty are punished in accordance with the law, according to a statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO). Condemning the Odisha BJP government, eight opposition parties, led by the Congress, called an Odisha bandh on July 17 to protest the death of the student. State Congress president Bhakta Charan Das said the bandh is being supported by eight parties, including the Left. He claimed the incident, which happened at the Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in Balasore, showed that the state government has failed to protect women. "She brought petrol, and everyone watched silently. No one acted," he said, attacking the ruling BJP.
New Indian Express
38 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Odisha college student's body cremated; Rahul slams 'systemic murder', congress led- opposition calls bandh on 17th
NEW DELHI: The body of the college student who set herself ablaze following alleged sexual harassment by a professor reached her village in Odisha's Balasore district on Tuesday. The student's body was cremated in the presence of her family and other villagers. Thousands of people thronged the crematorium ground to attend her cremation. Balasore MP Pratap Sarangi, district officials and others walked to the crematorium ground from the house of the student. The 20-year-old second-year B. Ed student of Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College, Balasore had accused the Head of Education Department, Samira Kumar Sahu of sexually harassing her. She set herself on fire on Saturday on the college campus over alleged inaction against the professor and suffered 95 per cent burns. The woman was first admitted to the Balasore district hospital and then shifted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar for advanced treatment. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday announced ex gratia of Rs 20 lakh for the family of the student. Majhi directed officers concerned to conduct a proper investigation into the incident so that all guilty are punished in accordance with the law, according to a statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO). Condemning the Odisha BJP government, eight opposition parties, led by the Congress, called an Odisha bandh on July 17 to protest the death of the student. State Congress president Bhakta Charan Das said the bandh is being supported by eight parties, including the Left. He claimed the incident, which happened at the Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in Balasore, showed that the state government has failed to protect women. "She brought petrol, and everyone watched silently. No one acted," he said, attacking the ruling BJP.
