Karnataka Issues Smart Cards for Free Women's Bus Rides
Three million women in Karnataka will receive smart cards to access free bus travel under the groundbreaking Shakti scheme. The program has already provided 753 million free rides and increased ridership by 40 percent in three years.
Women across Karnataka are about to get a pocket-sized pass to freedom of movement that's already transformed millions of lives.
The state government is rolling out smart cards for women using the Shakti scheme, which provides free rides on all government buses. Transport Minister Byrathi Suresh announced the cards will serve as ID for accessing the program that launched three years ago.
About 30 million smart cards will be distributed starting with a pilot project. Women can purchase the cards for a minimal fee but won't need to reload them, while men will also get rechargeable cards they can top up like metro passes.
The Ripple Effect
The numbers tell a powerful story of mobility unlocked. Since June 2026, passenger numbers have jumped 40 percent across Karnataka's four transport corporations.
The government has spent about 19,771 crore rupees providing 753.7 million zero-fare tickets to women. That's three quarters of a billion journeys to work, school, healthcare, and opportunity that might not have happened otherwise.
Bengaluru's metropolitan transport system saw the highest usage, with 242 crore trips by women. Across rural and urban regions, the program reached women who previously had to choose between transportation costs and other household needs.
The success has inspired expansion. Chief Minister D K Shivakumar just announced free bus passes for all students after boys asked why only girls received free travel.
The government plans to add 5,000 new buses, including 4,000 electric vehicles with central government support. That infrastructure investment shows confidence the program will keep growing.
The smart cards will streamline a system that's already working but make it easier to track, manage, and potentially expand to other services. It's the kind of practical upgrade that helps good programs become great ones.
A simple card that fits in any wallet now represents something bigger: a government investment in women's economic participation that's paying dividends across an entire state.
Based on reporting by Indian Express
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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