The free bus travel initiative for working women remains on paper, despite promises to the contrary.
Story so far: A Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) official has revealed that free bus passes for women will be issued after the elections are over, on an uncertain date. Earlier, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai had announced free travel for women working in the organised sector on BMTC buses.
- In his budget speech, Bommai allocated ₹1,000 crore to the initiative. He later directed the BMTC to ensure its implementation from April 1. However, the promise remains unfulfilled.
- A woman working in a private firm was confused over the application process for the free bus pass initiative. It would have alleviated a significant portion of their financial burden.
Why it matters? On March 8, when the BMTC announced free travel for all women to mark International Women’s Day, it received an immensely positive response. 21.97 lakh women availed it, surpassing the corporation’s expectation of 20 lakh commuters.