Shakti scheme beneficiaries to get smart cards from June

BENGALURU: The Transport Department has decided to distribute smart cards for Shakt free travel scheme for women, from June.

First, smart cards will be issued to woman passengers of BMTC. Later, they will be issued to women passengers of the other transport corporations. Women need only submit an Aadhaar card to get the smart card.

The smart card can also be used for Namma Metro travel. Passengers can show the smart card on buses for free travel. This same smart card must be recharged for Metro travel.

The Shakti smart card distribution is being implemented on a pilot basis in BMTC. The BMTC has already purchased 11,000 ETM machines and 6,000 machines are already being used.

The smart card uses latest technology and cashless transactions will be enabled through ETM and dynamic QR codes. Cards will be distributed free of cost to women and transgender persons. Online applications can be submitted at BangaloreOne, Bapuji Seva Kendra, and cyber centres.

Smart cards will be distributed at all bus stations across the state and cannot be transferred to others. The state plans to print three crore cards which will have the name, photo, Aadhaar number, and address details of the Shakti scheme beneficiary printed on it. All women in the state will receive smart cards within three months.