Bengaluru: Beginning from June 11, women in the state can travel free in government buses under the Shakti Yojana, which was launched by the Congress government in Karnataka.
To avail free travel in government buses, women have to obtain smart cards which will be made available after submitting applications.
The application process for smart cards will be open for the next three months, but in the meanwhile, women can produce ID cards issued by state or central governments.
Transgenders also are eligible to avail Shakti Yojana scheme.
However, conditions apply for availing this scheme. The women can only travel in Sarige buses, not in luxury buses like Rajahamsa, non-AC Sleeper, and Airavat buses among others.
Moreover, this scheme is only available for native residents of Karnataka.
Interestingly, these riders were not specified in the Congress party’s election manifesto in the runup to the state poll.