Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru (MS)

Bengaluru, Jan 6: The high court has directed the Karnataka government to extend the Shakti free travel scheme for women in KSRTC buses to include private buses as well. The government is instructed to review the petitioner's appeal within two months in accordance with the law.

Sharath Kumar Shetty, a private bus operator from Karkala, submitted the appeal to the high court, seeking the extension of the Shakti scheme to private buses.

In his petition, Sharath expressed, 'Since the implementation of the Shakti free travel scheme, private bus operators have been facing hardships. Therefore, the scheme should be applicable to private bus operators. Similar to government buses, women's travel expenses should be reimbursed to private bus operators.' The court is urged to direct the state government and RTO to consider the appeal submitted in this regard in July.

Around 75,000 workers in Karnataka depend on private buses. The state government collects Rs 1620 crore in taxes from private bus operators.