A recent incident on a Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus travelling from Belagavi to Ratnagiri highlighted growing confusion over the state’s Shakti scheme. A woman passenger began arguing with the conductor after being asked to purchase a ticket. She refused, asserting her right to free travel under the government’s Shakti Yojana.
The disagreement occurred around 10 km from the Belagavi Central Bus Stand. The woman, who was travelling to Nippani near the Karnataka-Maharashtra border, presented her Aadhaar card to avail of the scheme’s benefit. However, the conductor informed her that the scheme does not apply to interstate buses that travel over 20 km into neighbouring states. Angered by this, the woman questioned why she hadn’t been informed of the restriction before boarding.
Such incidents have become common in border regions, where many women passengers are unaware of the scheme’s limitations. A significant number of commuters do not know that certain interstate routes are excluded from the scheme. Compounding the problem is the lack of clear signage or markings on buses indicating their ineligibility under the Shakti scheme. This absence of upfront communication has resulted in repeated disputes and inconvenience, particularly in districts like Belagavi, where cross-border travel is frequent.
Passengers are often asked to pay mid-journey, leading to distress, especially for women who board without sufficient money, assuming the travel is free. Launched in 2023, the Shakti scheme provides free travel for women in non-premium government buses within Karnataka, but explicitly excludes interstate services that go beyond 20 km outside the state.
KSRTC Belagavi Divisional Controller Rajesh Huddar confirmed these rules while speaking to reporters. “The scheme does not apply to long-distance interstate buses like those bound for Pune, Mumbai, Ratnagiri, and Nasik. We operate about 25 such buses to Maharashtra and Telangana. Unfortunately, there’s currently no system to notify passengers in advance,” he said.
Acknowledging the issue, Huddar said KSRTC is actively considering solutions to prevent further confusion. Meanwhile, women commuters from border areas are urging the government to introduce a transparent and easily identifiable system for scheme-eligible buses. “We are taking this seriously and working on ways to improve clarity regarding eligible routes,” he added.
