Shakti: 5.4 cr women hitch free rides in 10 days

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: The State government has revealed that more than 5.4 crore women rode government buses for free in the first 10 days since the Shakti scheme was launched, adding that the collective potential fares for them would have been just under Rs126.73 crores.

According to information disclosed by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), 5,40,07,124 women hitched free rides from Sunday 1 am when the scheme was launched to Wednesday midnight. The release added that the free rides had been worth Rs126,72,99,929, which would be compensated to all four bus corporations by the State governments.

The figures account for women commuters travelling in buses belonging to all four government transport corporations namely Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), North Western Road Transport Corporations (NWKRTC) and Kalyana Kar nataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC).  

The numbers have been climbing steadily with only a total of 5,71,023 women availing the free services on the first day and has stabilized with over 50 lakh women making use of the same since.

As many as 57,58,561 women rode for free on Wednesday, tallying potential fares worth Rs12,83,59,358 in the process. BMTC continued to witness the most women passengers but gathered the second highest potential fares. KSRTC came in a close second with the most potential fares while KKRTC finished fourth.