Karnataka’s Free Bus Travel Scheme Creates World Record, 500 Crore Women Benefited
Karnataka’s Shakti Scheme, offering free bus travel for women, has now entered the Golden Book of World Records after over 500 crore women used it across state-run transport corporations.
- Shakti Scheme benefits cross 500 crore women passengers in two years
- Karnataka’s free bus travel plan enters Golden Book of World Records
- Boosts women’s empowerment and contributes to state economy
Bengaluru : Karnataka’s flagship Shakti Scheme, which allows women to travel free of cost in state-run buses, has achieved an extraordinary milestone by entering the Golden Book of World Records.
Launched on June 11, 2023, the scheme has seen unprecedented usage. Between its launch and July 25, 2025, more than 500 crore free tickets were issued to women passengers across KSRTC, BMTC, NWKRTC, and KKRTC. This daily average translates to over 80 lakh women travelers benefitting from the initiative.
Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy highlighted that the scheme has not only empowered women but also boosted the state’s per capita income by enabling greater mobility. He also credited transport corporation staff for their dedication in implementing the scheme successfully.
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The distribution of beneficiaries is equally impressive: BMTC reported 157.33 crore riders, KSRTC handled 151 crore, NWKRTC managed 117 crore, and KKRTC saw 72 crore women passengers travel under the program.
Interestingly, the Sustainable Mobility Network conducted a study named Beyond Free Rides in ten Indian cities, noting that in Bengaluru, 23% of working women use free buses, while in Hubballi-Dharwad, the figure stood at 21%. This reflects how the scheme has transformed daily commuting for women employees.
Apart from women, members of the transgender community have also benefitted from the Shakti Scheme. The initiative has been hailed as a model for women’s empowerment and social inclusion, and similar schemes are being adopted in other states under different names.
Celebrating the achievement, Minister Reddy said, “This is not just a record, but a recognition of the hard work of our transport corporations and a milestone in women’s empowerment.”
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