Shakti Scheme: Karnataka Releases ₹430 Crore to KSRTC and Other RTCs, Smart Cards Still Pending

The Karnataka government has released ₹430 crore to the four state transport corporations that run the Shakti free-travel scheme for women. This is the sixth instalment of reimbursement for tickets issued under the scheme, which started in June 2023.

How the ₹430 crore is split

Dues still pending

According to a KSRTC tender document, the four corporations spent ₹20,956 crore on Shakti tickets between June 2023 and July 2026. The government reimbursed ₹15,305 crore in that period, leaving about ₹5,651 crore unpaid.

Together the four corporations run 26,054 buses with about 1.20 crore boardings a day. Around 75.68 lakh of those daily journeys are free trips by women under Shakti.

What changes for women passengers

• Nothing changes for now. Women with a Karnataka address still travel free on eligible ordinary and express buses by showing Aadhaar (or another government ID with a Karnataka address) and taking a zero-value ticket.
• The government has asked the corporations to speed up distribution of Shakti smart cards. Once cards are issued, they are expected to replace showing Aadhaar on every trip.
• Premium services such as Airavat, Ambaari, Rajahamsa and Flybus are not covered by Shakti. Full fare applies.