The Karnataka state government owes approximately Rs 4,500 crore [2] to its four road transport corporations under the Shakti Scheme.
The financial strain highlights a growing tension between social welfare goals and the fiscal sustainability of public infrastructure. While the program has expanded access for women, the mounting debt threatens the operational stability of the state's transit networks.
The Shakti Scheme provides free bus travel for women across the state, including the KSRTC, BMTC, NWKRTC, and KKRTC [3]. Launched in June, the initiative has been in operation for two and a half years [1]. The government said the program was intended to improve women's safety, mobility, and participation in the workforce [4].
Total expenditure on free bus travel over the last two and a half years has reached Rs 17,647.5 crore [1]. This spending has led to a severe financial burden for the four involved transport undertakings [2].
To address these challenges, the Karnataka Cabinet approved the integration of smart cards and the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) system. This move aims to streamline fare collection, and improve transparency within the scheme [5].
The program remains a point of debate in cities like Bengaluru, where the social benefits of free transit are weighed against the long-term viability of the transport corporations [4].
“The Karnataka state government owes approximately Rs 4,500 crore to its four road transport corporations.”
The Shakti Scheme represents a significant gamble on social engineering, prioritizing immediate female empowerment and political support over the balance sheets of state utilities. The transition to smart-card integration suggests the government is attempting to move from a blanket subsidy to a more data-driven administrative model to curb losses without dismantling the popular benefit.
