📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Ms Sarah Welch
Sarkari Yojana
Karnataka Launches Shakti Scheme Smart Cards for Women’s Free Bus Travel
✍️ Asianet Newsable
🗓 02 Oct 2026, 02:46 AM
👁 11
The Karnataka government’s Shakti Scheme will issue smart cards to women, allowing them to travel on state buses without fare and eliminating the need for Aadhaar verification.
The Karnataka government has introduced the Shakti Scheme, a new initiative aimed at providing women with a dedicated smart card for public bus travel. Under the scheme, eligible women will receive a card that can be used on all state‑run bus services without paying a fare.
The smart card is designed to replace the Aadhaar number as the primary identifier for free travel, simplifying the verification process and ensuring privacy. Users will simply tap the card when boarding, and the system will record a fare‑free journey.
By removing the need for Aadhaar and offering complimentary rides, the scheme seeks to enhance mobility for women across the state, supporting their access to education, employment and healthcare. Officials say the initiative aligns with broader efforts to promote gender‑inclusive transport.
Implementation will begin shortly, with distribution points set up in major districts. The government has urged women to register for the card through designated channels to start benefiting from the free bus service.
The smart card is designed to replace the Aadhaar number as the primary identifier for free travel, simplifying the verification process and ensuring privacy. Users will simply tap the card when boarding, and the system will record a fare‑free journey.
By removing the need for Aadhaar and offering complimentary rides, the scheme seeks to enhance mobility for women across the state, supporting their access to education, employment and healthcare. Officials say the initiative aligns with broader efforts to promote gender‑inclusive transport.
Implementation will begin shortly, with distribution points set up in major districts. The government has urged women to register for the card through designated channels to start benefiting from the free bus service.