The Karnataka government recently announced the Shakti Scheme that offers free bus rides for women. The scheme allows for unlimited free transport on the bus services as long as you're traveling within Karnataka. While the scheme has been at play for a few months, the recent news around the scheme being valid for the next ten years has been garnering attention.
It had been some weeks since my mother kept wanting to try out the free bus service but news of overcrowded buses, fights breaking out amongst passengers and inconvenience made it quite unappealing to try. But one afternoon, after my mother and I went shopping in a neighborhood, we noticed a series of empty buses passing us by. This inspired us to give the free bus scheme a shot and here's what we discovered:
1. Keep the bare necessities in mind when availing the option
The scheme is valid only for female passengers. When boarding any bus, you need to keep a physical copy of your Aadhar card handy. The conductor asks you about which stop you want to get off at and then prints a ticket which you need to keep on you in case they come around for checks.
2. It's not a very well connected network
If you're counting on this to get to work on time, you'll need to plan ahead. It's best you try out a route beforehand to get a practical sense of how long it actually takes to arrive at your eventual destination. Some passengers opted to get down at metro stations and then proceed towards their eventual stops.
3. It's not a place to fuss over luxuries
Just like any local transport in India, it's important to be mindful of the overcrowding and demanding passengers riding the bus. In the 60 kilometers I traversed across five bus depots, multiple fights broke out which seemed quite unfair - it seems like the female passengers want still more and kept finding fault with the Conductors and bus drivers for silly reasons. The bus stops also don't have too many facilities with most just offering a roof over one's head. There are no eateries, toilets or any other basic amenities. But keeping an open mind helps and you get to really see the local side of life which can be an enjoyable experience.
4. Slow and steady wins the race
It's a great option if you want to travel out of town, enjoy slow travel and love taking in the sights at random stops. We decided to just hop on buses on a whim with no fixed plans and kept an open mind about the bus journey that invites all sorts of passengers who may or may not be mild mannered and welcoming. It's an ideal option if you want to save up and head to a specific stop, especially outside of city limits. If you're planning on heading out of town, look for the Sarige buses that are red in colour.
5. It'll be helpful to learn a little bit of the local language
As with any destination, learning the local language is always helpful. While it's not mandatory to be able to use the service and get to your stop, it could come in handy. Most bus signs are listed in Kannada so it may not be easy to catch. So make sure you yell out your stop to the conductors and drivers so they can confirm that the bus is heading that way. Even the major depots don't have clear signs about the locations, stops or the network. So it's best to ask around so you make sure you're on the correct bus.
The free bus service is definitely a boon to many, especially regular commuters who put aside their savings just to be able to make ends meet. There are several daily wage workers who have benefitted from this service and it helps connect neighboring villages to the main city.
If you're planning to avail this service, make sure you're mindful of the rules and stay respectful. And yes, try to get a window seat so you can watch the world go by!
Have you tried the free, local bus service in Karnataka? What are your thoughts? Share in the comments below.
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