The Shakti scheme, a flagship initiative by the Congress-led Karnataka state government, offers free travel to women in government buses. This program has significantly boosted the revenue of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) for the financial year 2023-24, reaching a remarkable Rs 3,930 crore.
Revenue Growth Post Shakti Scheme
Historical Revenue Data
KSRTC Managing Director Anbu Kumar provided a comparative analysis of the traffic revenue over recent years:
- 2016: Rs 2,738 crore
- 2017: Rs 2,975 crore
- 2018: Rs 3,131 crore
- 2019: Rs 3,182 crore
- 2020: Rs 1,569 crore (COVID-19 impact)
- 2021: Rs 2,037 crore
- 2022: Rs 3,349 crore
In 2023, after the Shakti scheme was implemented in June, KSRTC’s revenue soared to Rs 3,930 crore, excluding April and May.
Revenue Breakdown
From June 2023 to May 2024, the total traffic revenue was Rs 4,809 crore. Kumar attributed this increase primarily to a rise in non-Shakti passengers. The revenue split was:
- Shakti revenue: 42.5% (Rs 2,044 crore)
- Non-Shakti revenue: 57.5% (Rs 2,764 crore)
Kumar explained that female passengers often travel with their families, boosting non-Shakti revenue.
Impact on Daily Operations
Increased Daily Revenue and Load Factor
The daily revenue increased from around Rs 9.7 crore to Rs 13.9 crore. Prior to the Shakti scheme, dull days such as Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays had a load factor of 50-60%. Post-Shakti, the load factor has consistently been over 85%, with no dull days and high occupancy even during non-peak hours. This increased revenue was achieved without any fare hikes, despite the diesel cost rising to Rs 90 per litre.
Unsung Heroes: KSRTC Staff
Contributions of RTC Employees
The success of the Shakti scheme can be largely attributed to the dedicated efforts of KSRTC employees, including bus drivers, conductors, mechanics, and other staff from the four bus corporations: KSRTC, Kalyana-Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC), North West Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC), and Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC).
Overcoming Challenges
Despite facing a shortage of 14,000 employees and limited buses, the staff worked tirelessly to launch and sustain the scheme. Representatives of the KSRTC Staff and Workers Federation acknowledged the unexpected demand and challenges, highlighting the staff’s role in the scheme’s success. Anbu Kumar emphasized that without their support, the scheme could not have been a major success, recognizing them as the unsung heroes.
Conclusion
The Shakti scheme has significantly increased KSRTC’s revenue and operational efficiency, proving to be a game-changer for the corporation. The unwavering dedication of the RTC staff has been instrumental in this achievement, ensuring the scheme’s success and highlighting the potential for similar initiatives in the future.
