'Shakti Scheme' was announced by the
Second Siddaramaiah ministry on 2 June 2023. It started on 11 June 2023, providing free-of-charge bus service to Karnataka domicile women. Beneficiaries show their government-issued photo identity and address proof for the first three months. Bus conductors will issue them zero-fare tickets Thereafter, beneficiaries will have to obtain Shakti smartcards (named after the name of the scheme) through an application process on the government's Seva Sindhu website .
Terms and conditions of the scheme • The scheme will apply to all four Road Transport Corporations in the state (KSRTC, BMTC, NWKRTC and KKRTC). •
Nagara Sarige, Gramantara Sarige, Karnataka Sarige, Vayvya Nagara Sarige, Vayavya Gramantara Sarige, Vayavya Karnataka Sarige, Kalyana Nagara Sarige, Kalyana Gramantara Sarige, Kalyana Karnataka Sarige, Bengaluru Sarige, Samparka and
Astra services will be part of the scheme. • Women can travel for free only on bus services within the state. Bus services to destinations outside Karnataka will be outside the scheme's purview even if women travel within the state. For example, a woman travelling to
Belagavi in
Karnataka i.e., within the state on a Hubli-Kolhapur bus service which is an interstate service to
Kolhapur in neighbouring
Maharashtra, then the woman passenger will have to buy a ticket. • The scheme will not apply to luxury buses (
Rajahamsa Executive Class, Airavat Class, Airavat Club Class, Pallakki Class, Amoghavarsha Class, Ambaari Class, Ambaari Dream Class, Ambaari Utsav Class, Kalyana Ratha Class, Flybus, EV- Power Plus+, Bengaluru Darshini, Vajra and
Vayu Vajra services). • Half of the seats on KSRTC, NWKRTC and KKRTC's ordinary and express buses will be reserved for men. Luxury, AC and interstate buses as well as BMTC buses will be exempted from this. • The government will reimburse the RTCs based on the distance women travel. ==Karnataka's Road Transport Undertakings==