Questioning the BJP for not introducing pro-people schemes during its rule, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that so far about 120 crore women have travelled in State transport corporation buses since the launch of Shakti, the scheme of free bus travel for women.
“About 40 lakh women belonging to all castes, communities and economic class travel free in BMTC buses daily. The BJP is criticising the free ride scheme for women. Why did they not bring this pro-people scheme when they were in power?” the Chief Minister said during a programme to induct 100 electric buses in the BMTC fleet in Bengaluru on Tuesday, December 26. The BMTC will get 1,400 electric buses by April 2024.
The Chief Minister said that due to guarantee schemes, the purchasing power of people has increased and economic activities in the State have increased.
“The labourers, women, and farmers are saving a lot of money through these schemes and are using the savings for other household expenses. The economic condition of lakhs of families has improved.”
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah says that so far about 120 crore women have travelled in State transport corporation buses since the launch of Shakti, the scheme of free bus travel for women. | Photo Credit: Sudhakara Jain
He pointed out that 4.30 crore people in Karnataka are directly benefitting from the guarantee schemes, and these people are being brought to the economic mainstream.
Mr. Siddaramaiah said that while lakhs of families have been made economically independent, the BJP is criticising the schemes.
Newly inducted bus breaks down
The breakdown of a newly inducted electric bus near Maharani College underpass on the inaugural day took social media by storm. At around 2.06 p.m., the Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) on their official X account, said that there was slow-moving traffic near Maharani College Underpass towards Mysuru Bank circle due to the breakdown of a BMTC bus.
“That is the super new EV bus,already broken on maiden ride,” a social media user commented.
However, Sathyavathi G., MD, BMTC, said that it was just a minor issue of brakes getting jammed and not a breakdown. “Since the driver was new, he did not know how to release the lever of the brake which was jammed. It was figured out very shortly and then the bus was moving,” she told The Hindu.
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