Women will need to get Shakti smart cards for free bus travel within state

BENGALURU: Days after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, after holding a Cabinet meeting, announced that the ‘Shakti’ free travel scheme will come into effect from June 11, the government on Monday released guidelines for free bus travel for women.

The Shakti scheme is applicable only for travel within the state and women will have to apply through the Seva Sindhu portal. The process of distribution of Shakti Smart Cards will be completed in next three months, the government informed in the release.

Government Guidelines for Shakti Smart Card users

The scheme will be applicable in all buses except air-conditioned (AC) and luxury buses such as Rajahamsa, non-AC sleeper, Vajra, Vayuvajra, Airavata, Airavata Club Class, Airavata Gold Class, Ambari, Ambari Utsav, FlyBus, EV Power Plus (AC buses).

Except for Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) buses, 50 per cent of seats in all buses (except interstate, AC and luxury buses) of Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) and Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC) will be reserved for men.

Reimbursemnet to road transport corporations will be made on the basis of actual distance travelled by women passengers.

The process of receiving applications through Seva Sindhu portal and issuing Shakti Smart Cards will be completed within the next three months.

Identity cards issued by Govt of India/Government of Karnataka with photo and residential address will be considered for zero ticket issuance until issuing of Shakti Smart Card.