Govt boosts Shakti scheme with 1,000 new buses

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has taken a step to enhance the Shakti scheme, which provides free bus transportation for women in the state.

They have now approved the acquisition of over 1,000 buses for this initiative, with a budget allocation of Rs 500 crore. This decision occurred in a recent Cabinet meeting.

HK Patil, Karnataka's Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, informed the allocation specifics postmeeting.

He informed, "The Transport Department is set to procure 250 new buses for the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) at a cost of Rs 100 crore. The North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) will receive 375 buses for Rs 150 crore. The Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC) will acquire 250 new buses at a cost of Rs 300 crore. Additionally, the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) is scheduled to procure 320 air-conditioned electric buses for Rs 150 crore."

Initially, the government had sanctioned the distribution of smart cards to eligible Shakti scheme applicants for three months. However, they have extended the smart card distribution deadline by an extra six months.

A service charge of Rs 14.16 will be levied for each smart card issued to beneficiaries.

Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy also informed that the government has granted approval for the recruitment of 13,000 drivers and conductors for the state transport corporation.