Congress’ much-awaited promise of free travel for women in government buses in Karnataka may have to wait a little longer.
Despite Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy saying that the decision will come into effect from June 1, News18 has learned that formal approval is needed in the cabinet meeting scheduled for June 2, to make it actionable.
Transport Corporation (RTC) officials have submitted a report after thoroughly reviewing the final health of the body and as per the report, the free travel guarantee will be implemented with additional funds from the state government, upgradation of fleet and increase in manpower. can be done.
The compiled report, made for cabinet approval, provides details of the expected number of women to be benefitted, terms and conditions, burden on the exchequer and the financial condition of all the four transport corporations, as shared by the minister with News18 .
“I want to make it clear that all women can travel in government buses for free,” Reddy asserted after chairing the first meeting on May 30, where she met senior officials of all the four transport corporations.
Karnataka will become the third state in the country to start free bus travel for women after Delhi and Tamil Nadu. The Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP government implemented it in 2019, while the MK Stalin government in Tamil Nadu implemented it in 2020 after the DMK came to power. Under the scheme in Tamil Nadu, women are issued ‘zero tickets’, allowing them to travel up to 30 kilometers across the state without any cost.
A senior minister familiar with the discussion on the implementation of the Five Guarantees clarified that the free travel would come with some conditions. The minister clarified that luxury bus services like air-conditioned buses or premium interstate services like Airavat or Ambari will not come under the scheme.
The specific conditions regarding eligibility and availing free bus services to women will be finalized during the cabinet meeting on Friday, Reddy mentioned.
The first cabinet meeting held on May 20 by the newly formed government in Karnataka was aimed at formally approving the implementation of the five guarantees or schemes promised in the Congress manifesto.
These guarantees include Shakti (free travel for women in government public transport buses across Karnataka), Griha Lakshmi (Rs 2,000 per month for each female head of the household), Griha Jyoti (200 units of free electricity per month per household). , youth included. Nidhi (Rs 3,000 per month for unemployed graduates aged 18 to 25 and Rs 1,500 for unemployed diploma holders for two years), and Anna Bhagya Yojana (10 kg per month to each member of below poverty line families) Providing rice, with 5 kg) from the state and 5 kg from the Center under the Food Security Act.
Transport officials say about 50 per cent of the total 80 lakh bus passengers are women. They use the services of four road transport corporations: Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) ferries 23.59 lakh passengers daily for inter-district and state transport, Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) ferries 27.34 lakh passengers , North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) handles 16.94 lakh passengers daily, and Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC) carries 14.64 lakh passengers daily.
According to estimates compiled by the transport department, the four RTCs generate around Rs 23.13 crore in revenue daily, resulting in a total revenue of Rs 8,946.85 crore for the period between 2022 and 2023. The report prepared by the Department of Transport highlights the estimated annual expenditure. 4,220 crore for RTCs to implement the scheme.
Transport officials also suggest in the report that the four RTCs need to upgrade their fleets with at least 4,028 new buses and hire 13,793 additional staff members for effective implementation. Reddy has already given in-principle approval for procuring 4,249 new buses during the current financial year.
A report listing modalities on how to implement the promise of free bus service while generating enough income to sustain it will be submitted to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for approval during the cabinet meeting.