Launched by the Karnataka government in June 2023, the Shakti scheme has provided free bus rides to women, including transwomen, who travel on ordinary public buses with a valid ID. Over the past two years, the program has facilitated over 500 crore rides. Despite its scale, the scheme has been politically contentious, with opposition parties criticizing it as a "burden on taxpayers" and claiming that male passengers shoulder an unfair share of transportation costs.
Critics, particularly from the BJP, have framed such initiatives as part of a so-called "freebie culture." Ahead of the 2023 Karnataka assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed concerns that schemes like Shakti could contribute to state debt. The Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) itself noted financial losses in its 2023-24 report and partly attributed them to the scheme.
However, a closer look at BMTC's financial performance paints a different picture. Excluding government subsidies, BMTC's losses are comparable to pre-Shakti levels in 2021-22, indicating that the scheme has not dramatically worsened the corporation's finances. Passenger ridership and traffic revenue have also rebounded to pre-COVID levels since the scheme's introduction.
The broader takeaway is that, while financial scrutiny is important, public debate should focus on improving Bengaluru's bus system. Challenges such as accessibility, convenience, and overall commuter experience remain pressing issues that go beyond the question of free rides for women.