Synopsis
The Karnataka government reports that over 397 crore women have utilized its free travel scheme, Shakti, since its launch in June 2023. This initiative allows women to travel for free on RTC buses across the state, with significant ticket values recorded.Key Takeaways
- 397.97 crore women benefited from the Shakti Scheme.
- Ticket value for passengers reached Rs 9,743.09 crore.
- Peak passenger count recorded was 21.28 crore in December 2024.
- Government faces criticism from BJP regarding reimbursements.
- Scheme has positively impacted women’s mobility across Karnataka.
Bengaluru, Feb 22 (NationPress) The Congress-led Karnataka government has unveiled official data regarding the beneficiaries and costs associated with its prominent initiative, the Shakti Scheme, which facilitates complimentary travel for women throughout the state via RTC buses.
As per an official announcement from the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), a cumulative total of 397.97 crore women passengers have benefited from the scheme since its inception on June 11, 2023, up to February 21, 2025. The equivalent ticket value for these passengers amounts to Rs 9,743.09 crore.
This statistic encompasses passengers from KSRTC, Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), North West Karnataka Transport Corporation (NWKRTC), and Kalyan Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC). On February 21, 2025, 74.07 lakh women passengers utilized RTC buses, with the ticket revenue reaching Rs 20.19 crore.
During the initial launch period of the scheme, from June 11, 2023, to June 30, 2023, 10.54 crore women passengers availed themselves of the free travel benefit, with a ticket value of Rs 248.30 crore.
In July 2023, the number of women passengers rose to 19.63 crore, generating a total ticket value of Rs 453.07 crore. The upward trend continued in August 2023, with 20.03 crore passengers and a ticket value of Rs 459.10 crore.
However, a decline was noted in the subsequent months, as September 2023 saw passenger numbers fall to 18.95 crore, followed by 18.26 crore in October and 18.25 crore in November.
From December 2023 to June 2024, the count of women passengers fluctuated between 18 crore and 19 crore. Nevertheless, in June 2024, free travelers surged again to 20.28 crore.
The highest recorded figure was in December 2024, with 21.28 crore women passengers traveling, yielding a ticket value of Rs 515.69 crore.
In Bengaluru specifically, the total number of women passengers utilizing government-operated city buses since the scheme's launch has reached 126.79 crore, with a related ticket value of Rs 1,686.17 crore, according to official records.
Meanwhile, the Karnataka BJP has heavily criticized the government for its failure to reimburse the amounts owed to state-run transport corporations, warning of potential severe repercussions. However, the state government has dismissed these concerns as mere propaganda, asserting that the situation is well-managed and that outstanding payments will be settled shortly.
