Karnataka Cabinet Approves Shakti Smart Card, NCMC for Free Bus Travel Scheme

• Karnataka Cabinet approves Shakti Smart Card and National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) for four State Transport Undertakings (STUs).
• The integration aims to streamline fare collection and enhance transparency for the Shakti free bus travel scheme for women.
• Shakti scheme, a Congress government guarantee, offers free bus rides to Karnataka women in non-luxury government buses, rolled out on June 11, 2023.
• Over 660 crore free journeys undertaken by eligible women beneficiaries as of January 2026, with an average of 75.68 lakh women daily.
• Cabinet also approved forming a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) and a Common Pool Escrow Account for financial management and sustainability.