Overview

• Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar marked the 500 croreth free ride by handing a symbolic ticket to a woman passenger on a BMTC bus.
• Since its launch on June 11, 2023, by the Congress government, the scheme has grown to support over 1.17 crore daily female commuters.
• The state has reimbursed more than ₹12,614 crore to KSRTC, BMTC, NWKRTC and KKRTC with roughly ₹2,750 crore still pending.
• To ease congestion and support rising demand, Karnataka secured a ₹2,000 crore loan to add 5,800 new buses and plans to recruit 10,000 staff.
• BJP leaders and senior Congress figures have warned that overcrowded buses and swelling costs threaten the scheme’s sustainability.