Road Transport Corporations (RTCs) in Karnataka have estimated that about 1.2 crore Women may apply for smart cards in order to avail the newly-launched ‘Shakti’ scheme that guarantees free travel for women on all state-run buses.
On the launch day of the scheme, more than 5.7 lakh women took free rides on buses operated by the four RTCs from 1 pm to midnight. The free rides cost the RTCs around Rs 1.4 crore.
Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation(BMTC) accounted for the highest number of women passengers at more than two lakh, who took free rides, while free ridership was lowest forKalyana KarnatakaRTC at 50,000-plus.