Wed Apr 16 13:44:53 UTC 2025: **Mysuru’s Shakti Scheme Fuels KSRTC Revenue Despite Free Rides for Women**
**Mysuru, Karnataka, April 16, 2025** – The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) in Mysuru is experiencing a surprising revenue boom, despite offering free bus rides to women under the Congress government’s Shakti scheme. Launched two years ago, the scheme has led to a dramatic shift in ridership, with women now comprising approximately 75% of passengers on intra-city routes.
This massive increase in ridership, estimated at 3.22 lakh women daily within Mysuru city alone, has not only not crippled the KSRTC, but has actually boosted its daily revenue to between ₹80 lakh and ₹1 crore. The Divisional Controller, Veeresh H.T., confirmed these figures, noting even higher revenue on weekends and holidays. Special services were deployed during the recent Dodda Jathre pilgrimage at Nanjangud, resulting in a doubling of revenue.
Across the Mysuru district, 65.91% of women are benefiting from the scheme, with an estimated 4-4.5 lakh women using free bus services daily. The state government has reimbursed ₹527 crore to the KSRTC in Mysuru to cover the cost of these free rides.
The scheme has significantly impacted commuting habits, particularly for working women, many of whom have switched from private transport to KSRTC buses. This increased demand has led to the expansion of daily services to over 520 schedules, with a focus on routes heavily used by students and professionals. In its first year, the scheme facilitated 13.59 crore free rides in Mysuru alone.
The KSRTC’s Mysuru urban division plans to further enhance its services by adding electric buses and increasing the frequency of trips on high-demand routes. The unexpected financial success of the Shakti scheme demonstrates its positive impact on public transport usage and the wider economy.
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