Male passenger ridership in buses drops to 36 pc after Shakti scheme implementation amid fare hike plan

BENGALURU: The Congress government’s Shakti free travel scheme has won the hearts of women in the state. But due to the impact of the scheme, the number of male passengers travelling in public buses has declined.

On one hand, the government is moving toward revising the Gruha Lakshmi and Gruha Jyothi schemes. On the other hand, there is a possibility of hiking fares for public transport buses. Transport corporations are set to bring to the CM’s attention the key reasons why a bus fare hike is inevitable. Major factors include diesel price hike, increase in staff salaries, the Shakti scheme, and a decline in the number of male passengers in buses — all of which have been conveyed to the government by the transport corporations.

Officials have brought to the CM’s notice that after the Shakti scheme, the number of male passengers in road transport buses has declined, causing a financial burden on the department. This scheme, which came into effect from 11.06.2023, provides free travel for women within the state on ordinary and express buses.

A report submitted to the Transport department states that the number of male passengers has dropped from 48 per cent to 36 per cent. Due to this, transport corporations are facing a cash flow shortage for daily operations.

So far this current year, the number of male passengers has declined from 48 per cent to 36 per cent. The main reasons for this decline are bus rush, non-availability of seats for men, increase in the number of private vehicles, metro usage, and several other reasons. Organizations say that if bus fares are hiked again, even more male passengers are likely to move away from buses.

“Hiking fares will definitely become a burden for men who travel by buses, but for women, it is helpful. But whom can we complain to? We will just have to grin and bear it. If we speak out, women in buses will thrash us. We don’t get seats, we can’t even get into buses”, said Krishna, a commuter.

“Repeated hike in fares will affect us. Men are avoiding buses as there are more women and they have to rely on other modes of transport. The authorities think of something like smart cards”, said Salman. “Women are even occupying seats reserved for men, which is causing problems. Let them occupy seats earmarked for them. The existing fares are already high and further increasing them will be a burden for us”, said Arshad.

With the number of male passengers in buses already declining, if fares are hiked further, there is a possibility that even more male passengers will stay away from bus travel.