Shakti impact: Women footfall at religious, tourist spots drop over weekend
Bengaluru, NT Bureau: In a surprising turn of events, the recent implementation of the Shakti project, which offers free travel for women in state government buses, has led to a notable decrease in the number of women tourists visiting religious places and popular tourist spots across the State.
This decline has been observed throughout the week, impacting various destinations such as Anjanadri, Huligemma, Biligiri Ranganathaswamy and Malemahadeshwar Hill.
At Anjanadri and Huligemma temples in Koppal district, the number of female devotees has plummeted from 40,000 to 15,000 and 1 lakh to 15,000, respectively.
The surge of women devotees seeking to offer special puja to Amma Alumeluranganayaki at Biligiri Ranganathaswamy temple in Chamarajanagar district has resulted in overcrowded KSRTC buses, prompting many to rely on private buses, tempos and cars instead.
In coastal and north Karnataka, where the monsoon season and agricultural activities have begun, the number of devotees and tourists visiting religious sites has also been relatively lower.
However, amid this decrease, Jog Falls in Shimoga district has mana g ed to attract a significant number of tourists. This can be attributed to the continuous rainfall and the mesmerising beauty of the waterfalls, drawing visitors from far and wide.
While the provision of free travel for women in state government buses was implemented with good intentions, its unintended consequence of deterring female tourists has raised concerns.
The decline in weekend rush has sparked discussions about the need to strike a balance between facilitating women's travel and ensuring a vibrant tourism industry