Women commuters in Bengaluru may soon be able to use a single smart card for both free bus travel and Namma Metro journeys, with the State government planning to introduce a Shakti Scheme smart card integrated with the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) system.

The proposed initiative aims to simplify public transport for women by enabling seamless travel across multiple modes of transport using a single card. While the card will continue to provide free travel benefits under the Shakti scheme on Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) buses and services operated by other State-run transport corporations, it will also function as a rechargeable payment card for Namma Metro services.

Officials said that the new card is being designed on the NCMC platform, a nationwide standard that allows commuters to access various public transport systems through a single smart card. Once implemented, women beneficiaries will no longer need separate systems for bus and Metro travel.

Under the proposed framework, eligible women can obtain the card free of cost by submitting an application through online or offline channels. The government is planning to facilitate registration through citizen service centres and digital platforms. “During the enrolment process, applicants will undergo e-KYC verification, during which their residential address and other eligibility details will be digitally authenticated before the card is issued,” a senior official from the Transport Department told The Hindu.

Convenient mobility card

According to officials, the card will continue to guarantee free travel under the Shakti scheme across buses operated by the State’s four transport corporations. At the same time, it will serve as a stored-value smart card for Metro journeys.

“The objective is to provide women with a single, convenient mobility card. A beneficiary can obtain the card free of cost, travel on government buses under the Shakti scheme without any charges, and also use the same card for Metro travel after recharging it. This will eliminate the need to carry multiple cards or tickets and make travel across different modes of transport much smoother,” official said.

Currently, women passengers avail themselves of free travel under the Shakti scheme by obtaining a zero-fare ticket after presenting a valid government-issued identity card to the conductor. However, officials noted that there have been instances of individuals using invalid or duplicate identity documents to claim the benefit. They emphasised that the scheme is intended solely for women who are domiciled in Karnataka.

Officials further stated that the verification process will help ensure that only eligible beneficiaries receive the benefits. “While issuing the Shakti smart card, we will verify the applicant’s residential address and other details required to avail the benefits under the Shakti scheme. The digital verification process will help improve transparency and efficiency,” official added.

To replace the current practice

The smart card is also expected to replace the current practice of women passengers showing Aadhaar cards to conductors to avail themselves of free travel. Instead, conductors will validate journeys by swiping the card on electronic ticketing machines. The system will automatically generate zero-value tickets for Shakti beneficiaries while maintaining accurate passenger records.

An official said that the introduction of smart cards would also benefit conductors by improving the accuracy of passenger data. According to the official, there have been instances where zero-fare tickets were allegedly issued even when no eligible passenger was travelling, resulting in discrepancies in passenger records.

“Conductors often face difficulties manually verifying identity cards, especially during peak hours when buses are crowded. The smart card system will simplify the process, allowing tickets to be generated instantly through visual verification or by tapping the card on the Electronic Ticketing Machine (ETM). This will reduce delays, improve efficiency and ensure more accurate data collection,” the official said.

Launched on June 11, 2023, as the first of the Congress government’s five guarantee schemes, the Shakti programme provides free travel for women, transgender persons and students on non-premium buses operated by State-run transport corporations. Since its introduction, the initiative has become one of Karnataka’s most widely utilised welfare programmes and was recognised by the Golden Book of World Records for facilitating free travel for the highest number of women passengers under a public transport scheme.