Smart cards to be issued for free bus service for women in Karnataka

BENGALURU: The Karnataka government on Monday listed all the buses which cannot be used for the free bus service for women passengers and also said that all women and transgender passengers who wish to avail the service should apply for a "Shakthi Smart Card" for the scheme under the Seva Sindhu portal.
According to the government order (GO), the Shakthi Scheme or free bus service for women and third gender will be launched from June 11.
"...Till the time smart cards are disbursed, passengers who avail the free bus service can use any identity card with Karnataka proof of residence to travel in buses designated under the scheme."
According to the GO, the smart card application disbursal will be completed within three months from the time of the order issued.
The government in its order has justified the need of the smart card for tracking the free passenger service for women provided by the four road transport corporations (RTC) to secure the reimbursements from the government.
The smart cards will help the RTCs to track the actual distance traveled by women passengers using the service.
Furthermore, the scheme has said that all air conditioned buses and inter-state luxury buses are not included in the free bus service list.
As per the order, the buses including Rajahamsa, Vajra, Vayuvajra, non-AC sleeper, Airavata, Airavata club class, Airavata Gold Class, Ambari, Ambari dream class, Ambari Utsav, Flybus and EV Power Plus AC bus are not covered under the free bus service.
The order reiterates chief minister Siddaramaiah’s statement, which was made soon after the cabinet cleared the poll guarantees, that all buses apart from the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) will have 50 per cent reservation for male passengers to travel across the state.
The Shakti Scheme, part of the five big poll promises by the Congress party, is said to have played a key role in attracting women voters towards its fold and catapulted it to a landslide win in the recent polls.
However, with a majority of the bus fleet out of reach for women passengers and the possible rigors of applying for a smart card, it has to be seen as to how efficiently will the scheme work in the coming weeks and months.