Karnataka to reimburse transport bodies for revenue shortfall following Shakti scheme

Bengaluru: The Karnataka government plans to reimburse its transport corporations every month for the revenue shortfall they would face due to the Congress regime's scheme that allows free bus rides for women, transport minister Ramalinga Reddy told ET.

The state owes regional transport corporations (RTCs) about Rs 194 crore for the first 15 days since the Shakti scheme was launched on June 11, according to data released by the transport department.

Till Monday, around 82.4 million women had travelled for free in the buses. The Bengaluru Municipal Transport Corporation (BMTC) had the highest ridership at around 27.2 million, costing about Rs 34.07 crore. The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation, which ferried 24.2 million women, had an estimated revenue shortfall of Rs 73.04 crore.


The Shakti scheme, allowing women to travel for free in non-A/C government-run buses, is one of the five promises the Congress had made before the assembly elections. The government estimates that the programme would cost the state Rs 4,050 crore every year. Minister Reddy estimated that 80% of the monthly pay-outs would be used for paying salaries and covering fuel costs.