Latest


Bengaluru: Free bus travel for women - Road transport corporations marching towards profits

  •   Wed, Jul 05 2023 05:07:12 PM

Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru (MS)

Bengaluru, Jul 5: The implementation of the free bus travel scheme by the Siddaramiah-led Congress government, soon after assuming power, was initially criticized for being a burden on the state exchequer. However, those who made such comments are now being proven wrong as all state road transport corporations have not only recovered but are also heading towards profitability.

The question arises: how can road transport corporations make a profit when women are provided with free bus rides? The answer lies in the remarkable increase in the number of people choosing to travel by government buses. According to a report, approximately 25 lac people are now traveling daily in government buses. As men have also started utilizing government buses due to the travel of their female family members, the road transport corporations are experiencing a surge in income.

In the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), the average number of passengers from June 1 to 10 was 24.45 lac. From June 11 to 27, the number increased to 31.82 lac people who used KSRTC buses.

In the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), 31.49 lac people traveled from June 1 to 10, generating a daily income of Rs 4.62 crore. From June 11 to 27, the number of travelers rose to 38.34 lac.

In the North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC), 2.14 crore people traveled from June 1 to 10. During the same period, 1.88 crore men also utilized NWKRTC government buses.

In the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC), the number of daily travelers across eight districts has increased from 14 lac to 16 lac.

Overall, road transport corporations are on the verge of achieving profitability. Furthermore, the free bus travel initiative has led to a tenfold increase in temple revenues, as numerous women visit temples. Additionally, nearby hotels, vehicle services, and other vendors have experienced a boost in business. Many netizens have hailed this scheme as a masterstroke by the Congress party.

 

 
  

Top Stories

Comment on this article

  • KS Mayya, Mangalore/Bangalore

    Thu, Jul 06 2023

    If more people build their lifestyle around public transport, our roads will be less crowded. I was against this idea primarily because various Road transport corporations were already in dire straits and KSRTC is one of the best transport corporations in South India. But if the Shakthi scheme is helping them with the turnaround, this scheme should be cemented forever. RTCs could think about innovative solutions for commute including last mile commute and also consider electric buses for such commute built around the commute needs of women. In DK and Udupi also, they should consider introduction of more buses in various routes starting with routes that are less serviced.

    DisAgree Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vincent D'Souza, Belthangady

    Thu, Jul 06 2023

    This profitability is it through cash collection or also through debit to government incurred by free travel? Please clarify?

    DisAgree [1] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Raheja Waterfront

    Thu, Jul 06 2023

    I had suggested that men should be allowed as Standees in Free Bus for Women ...

    DisAgree [4] Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Arun, THIRTHAHALLI

    Wed, Jul 05 2023

    Also Auto rickshaw drivers are hit badly by it.So I hope government realises people who run autos are also poor not rich

    DisAgree [30] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Dr KUSUMA KUMARI GUNJI MBBS DGO, Nellore Kodyadka

    Wed, Jul 05 2023

    I feel we must appreciate the free transport provided by Congress government May god bless the government

    DisAgree [9] Agree [31] Reply Report Abuse

  • kishore, mangalore

    Wed, Jul 05 2023

    Bravo !!! Such a good Government !!

    DisAgree [20] Agree [71] Reply Report Abuse

  • Concerned Nagarika, Mangaluru

    Wed, Jul 05 2023

    Congress has come…has brought benefits to common man. Congratulations CM 💐

    DisAgree [18] Agree [75] Reply Report Abuse

  • Prem, moodbidri

    Wed, Jul 05 2023

    RTC marching towards profit thanks to Andh Bhakths, who not only gave publicity to this Bhagya, but also, travelled in the bus, to see... how many women travel, when they will fight etc,,,,

    DisAgree [19] Agree [56] Reply Report Abuse

  • Alwyn, Canada

    Wed, Jul 05 2023

    Biden should invite Siddha to speeach in congress than others . Bangalore is IT and siddha is a king of the IT hub

    DisAgree [13] Agree [55] Reply Report Abuse

  • Gautam Das, Bangalore

    Wed, Jul 05 2023

    BJP’s Modinomics believes in becoming rich by filling its own pocket. Congress believes in all people becoming rich by giving back to people. BJP, get ready to hear similar more good news of Anna Bhagyas, Griha Laxmi and doles for jobless youths. Is BJP still out from state assembly on protest against delay in implementing Anna Bhagya or reeling down to torn Chaddi with this news??.?…

    DisAgree [14] Agree [54] Reply Report Abuse

  • Guru, Mangalore

    Wed, Jul 05 2023

    Av av av av av.

    DisAgree [24] Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • Raj, Mangalore

    Wed, Jul 05 2023

    How come its profit when government has to repay the full amount to ksrtc back. That too taxpayers money. More the women's travel, more burden on Government to repay the same amount to ksrtc. This is not masterstroke but Stroke.

    DisAgree [54] Agree [28] Reply Report Abuse

  • John Tauro, M'lore

    Wed, Jul 05 2023

    I too wonder how can they earn profit, for instance if there are 50 women and 20 men in a bus of 70 passengers. It is not necessary that all women are accompanied by male members of their families. A woman can be accompanied by another woman too. Working women travel all alone. Normally middle aged women too are capable of traveling alone. Only young and newly married women or those with small children are accompanied by husbands or male members in the family. From where does profit arise in such a case?

    DisAgree [19] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ramesh Masand, Uchila

    Thu, Jul 06 2023

    Mr. Tauro, please read the article carefully. The profits are coming from routes where KSRTC was running buses almost empty, but had to keep running them as social responsibility. The scheme, while benefiting women is also attracting men to travel in the same bus with their families . Also, the ‘other’ income benefits for temples, local transport from bus stands, restaurants, hotels, etc..

    DisAgree [3] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • D.Shetty, Mangalore

    Wed, Jul 05 2023

    only congress can hail this as master stroke, people with common sense can understand what is profit with freebies

    DisAgree [100] Agree [78] Reply Report Abuse

  • Manohar, Udupi

    Wed, Jul 05 2023

    Only range of 40% converted for freebies......even temples, local tourism are on profit......bjp cannot digest it...

    DisAgree [19] Agree [55] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sridhar S, Mangalore

    Wed, Jul 05 2023

    Very early to rejoice. Every week figures of travllers in Government buses, is not an index for the effectiveness of the free bus travel program. Lot ofmale passengers, senior citizens and college going students are not able to enter the buses, leave alone getting a seat. These weekly figures are lie share price movement in stock markets, random and cannot be extrapolated for the FY. Impact of these schemes,

    DisAgree [21] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Mika, Bangalore

    Wed, Jul 12 2023

    Many are not getting seats because the bus is full. Women who travel behave as if they own the bus. I have experienced it first hand. I go by private and mind you, getting freebies is gonna make ppl want more freebies and then it'll give birth to entitlement. Good for the generation? Temples are on profit is it. Where does the temple money go? If they are so Secular Party, let them take money from all the regious places or stop taking temple money. Can they do it? They want temple money but would rewoke the anti conversion policy. What a wonderful govt.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Arun, THIRTHAHALLI

    Wed, Jul 05 2023

    Auto rickshaw drivers are hit badly .There incomes have reduced by 50 % .I hope people who bat this scheme as pro poor realise that Auto rickshaw drivers too are poor

    DisAgree [24] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ronald D'Souza, Kodial

    Thu, Jul 06 2023

    Autos run in large numbers only in bigger cities and the scheme encompasses all of Karnataka. It is also unlikely that those using free KSTRC buses would be using autos anyway. They are also astronomically priced even compared to cities like Bombay and looked designed to help BJP foot soldiers like BD etc. make easy money way beyond their costs. They may not make as much money as before maybe but surely, they will not reach starvation point.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Arjun, India

    Wed, Jul 05 2023

    After few months govt will stop paying, then next govt will have to clear dues

    DisAgree [112] Agree [52] Reply Report Abuse

  • Alfria, Manglore/Mumbai

    Wed, Jul 05 2023

    You know when the next time bjp government will come now relax for next 10 years.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [23] Reply Report Abuse

  • Arun, THIRTHAHALLI

    Wed, Jul 05 2023

    Too early to celebrate .Let see if this scheme continues after 2024 Loksabha polls

    DisAgree [22] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • real kujuma, kodial

    Wed, Jul 05 2023

    master stroke by Sidda....this step has put back the plans of nagpur gulams by more than 50 years...now they are scratching head how to foil these freebies...they never gave one in their rule...

    DisAgree [57] Agree [107] Reply Report Abuse

  • ayes p, kudla/ksa

    Wed, Jul 05 2023

    One more thappad for losers who criticized.

    DisAgree [41] Agree [116] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ranga, Ranganpalke/Kawdoor

    Wed, Jul 05 2023

    Ayesha Devi...Sad fact is that now a days school childrens hesitate to go to school as unable to board the bus as from first stop itself almost full. Same is the case of womens who travelling to there work unable to catch the bus as not halted at all.

    DisAgree [24] Agree [30] Reply Report Abuse


Leave a Comment

Title: Bengaluru: Free bus travel for women - Road transport corporations marching towards profits



You have 2000 characters left.

Disclaimer:

Please write your correct name and email address. Kindly do not post any personal, abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful or similar comments. Daijiworld.com will not be responsible for any defamatory message posted under this article.

Please note that sending false messages to insult, defame, intimidate, mislead or deceive people or to intentionally cause public disorder is punishable under law. It is obligatory on Daijiworld to provide the IP address and other details of senders of such comments, to the authority concerned upon request.

Hence, sending offensive comments using daijiworld will be purely at your own risk, and in no way will Daijiworld.com be held responsible.

You might also like