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With preparations underway for the implementation of the initial among the five electoral promises, ‘Shakti’, which entails providing free bus travel for women in Karnataka, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah clarified on Saturday that women can avail this benefit within a 20 km radius of the state’s borders, but not beyond that.
On Sunday, the Chief Minister, accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy, announced their plans to inaugurate the program from Vidhana Soudha.
Talking to reporters, CM Siddaramaiah said, “We are launching one of the five guarantees at Vidhana Soudha at 11 AM. All women will be entitled to travel within the state free of cost in all the (state-owned) buses other than AC and Volvo, including express bus services.”
According to the Chief Minister, if women intend to travel by inter-state buses, the free service does not apply. He further clarified that if a woman desires to travel to Tirupati, she cannot do so free of charge. She can travel without cost only up to Mulbagal (located at the border of Kolar district and Andhra Pradesh), but beyond that point, the free service is not available.
Nevertheless, women who travel within a distance of 20 km inside the adjacent states will not incur any charges.
“For example, from Ballari to 20 km inside Andhra Pradesh, they (women) can go free of cost,” Siddaramaiah said.
