Shakti Scheme: Free Travel for Women in Karnataka.Bengaluru: The Congress-led Karnataka government has launched an initiative aimed at empowering women across the state: the Shakti Scheme: Free Travel for Women in Karnataka. This flagship program enables women to travel for free on all RTC buses, significantly promoting their mobility and independence.
Overview of the Shakti Scheme
According to an official statement from the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), an astounding 397.97 crore women passengers have utilized the Shakti Scheme since its launch on June 11, 2023, through February 21, 2025. This impressive figure translates to a ticket value of Rs 9,743.09 crore, highlighting the scheme’s substantial impact on women’s transportation.
This data encompasses passengers from various transport corporations, including KSRTC, Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), North West Karnataka Transport Corporation (NWKRTC), and Kalyan Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC). On February 21, 2025, the total number of women passengers who traveled on RTC buses amounted to 74.07 lakh, contributing a ticket value of Rs 20.19 crore.
Growth of Women Passengers
During the initial phase of the scheme, from June 11 to June 30, 2023, 10.54 crore women took advantage of the free travel benefit, equating to a ticket value of Rs 248.30 crore. In July 2023, the trend continued upward, with 19.63 crore women passengers recorded and a total ticket value of Rs 453.07 crore. The momentum persisted into August 2023, reaching 20.03 crore passengers, with a ticket value of Rs 459.10 crore.
However, a slight decline was noted in the subsequent months. The passenger numbers fell to 18.95 crore in September, followed by 18.26 crore in October and 18.25 crore in November. From December 2023 to June 2024, the number fluctuated between 18 crore and 19 crore. Notably, June 2024 saw a resurgence, with 20.28 crore women traveling for free.
The peak usage was recorded in December 2024, when 21.28 crore women passengers availed of the scheme, with a ticket value of Rs 515.69 crore.
Impact in Bengaluru
In Bengaluru alone, the number of women utilizing government-run city buses since the Shakti Scheme began has reached 126.79 crore, with a corresponding ticket value of Rs 1,686.17 crore. This indicates the scheme’s significant role in enhancing public transport accessibility for women.
Despite the positive impacts, the Karnataka BJP has criticized the government for not reimbursing the amount owed to the transport corporations, warning of potential repercussions. However, the state government has dismissed these claims as political propaganda, assuring that all pending payments will be settled soon.
For more information on public transport in Karnataka, visit Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation.
For the latest updates on the Shakti Scheme and other initiatives, check out The Hans India.
This initiative represents a significant step toward gender equality in public transport and serves as a model for other states to follow.
