Shakti: Nearly 1.5 cr women hitch free rides in 4 days

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: The State government has revealed that more than 1.48 crore women rode government buses for free in the first four days since the Shakti scheme was launched, adding that the collective potential fares for them would have been over Rs32.56 crores.

According to information disclosed by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), 1,48,75,692 women hitched free rides from Sunday 1 am when the scheme was launched to Wednesday midnight. The release added that the free rides had been worth Rs32,56,86,827.

The figures account for women commuters travelling in buses belonging to all four government transport corporations namely Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), North Western Road Transport Corporations (NWKRTC) and Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC).

The numbers have been climbing steadily with only a total of 5,71,023 women availing the free services on Sunday and has stabilized with over 50 lakh women making use of the same on Tuesday and Wednesday. KSRTC witnessed the most women passengers and correspondingly the highest fares that will be compensated for by the State government. BMTC came in a close second while KKRTC finished fourth