Bengaluru Women Commuters to Receive Unified Smart Mobility Card for Seamless Travel
Women commuters in Bengaluru are poised for a significant convenience enhancement with the introduction of a single smart mobility card that will function both on city buses and the Metro system. The Karnataka state government is preparing to launch Shakti Scheme ID smart cards that serve dual purposes: as travel credentials on BMTC buses and as National Common Mobility Cards (NCMC) for smooth entry into Namma Metro stations.
Dual Functionality and Free Travel Benefits
The proposed smart card will maintain the guarantee of free bus travel under the existing Shakti Scheme on BMTC buses while simultaneously operating as a stored-value card for Metro train rides. Users will simply need to recharge the card to access Metro services, creating a unified payment solution for multimodal transportation.
Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy confirmed that the cards will be issued free of cost to eligible beneficiaries. The Shakti Scheme already enables free travel for women domiciled in Karnataka across more than 25,000 buses operated by four state-run transport corporations, with over 75 lakh women utilizing the facility daily. In Bengaluru alone, approximately 22–24 lakh women depend on free bus travel every day.
Addressing System Vulnerabilities and Improving Accuracy
The new smart card is expected to replace the current practice of showing Aadhaar cards to conductors—a system that has been vulnerable to misuse through fake or out-of-state credentials. By integrating the card with electronic ticketing machines, conductors will swipe the card to validate each trip, ensuring precise passenger data collection and preventing revenue leakages.
"The state cabinet cleared the project. Now modalities will be worked out on how to issue the card. Measures will be taken to issue the card in online and offline modes through citizen services facilitation centres in cities and rural areas. Cards will be issued free of cost," Minister Reddy stated.
An official elaborated: "While issuing the Shakti Scheme smart card, a database available with the state will be used to verify residential address and other details. Conductors will be able to issue the ticket only after swiping the card on the electronic ticketing machine. This will bring more accuracy in the number of people using the benefit, money spent, and other metrics."
Substantial Usage and Financial Investment
The four Road Transport Corporations (KSRTC, BMTC, NWKRTC, and KKRTC) have collectively issued over 668 crore tickets for women passengers traveling on ordinary buses. From June 11, 2023, to February 12, 2026, these corporations spent Rs 17,313 crore to provide free travel facilities under the Shakti Scheme.
Detailed breakdown of Shakti Scheme implementation:
- KSRTC: 202 crore women traveled at a cost of Rs 6,568 crore
- BMTC: 214 crore women traveled at a cost of Rs 3,056 crore
- NWKRTC: 156 crore women traveled at a cost of Rs 4,276 crore
- KKRTC: 94.99 crore women traveled at a cost of Rs 3,409 crore
These figures cover the period from June 11, 2023, to February 12, 2026, demonstrating the substantial scale of the Shakti Scheme's implementation across Karnataka.
Additional Student Travel Initiative
In a related development, the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) will provide free bus travel to Pre-University Course (PUC) students during their examination period from February 28 to March 17. Students can avail this facility by presenting their hall tickets, with the free travel available on ordinary and express services operated by KSRTC. This initiative enables students to travel from their residences to their respective examination centers and has been implemented based on a request from the chairman of the Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board (KSEAB).
