Shakti Yojana leaves transport corporations with ₹4,220 crore dues

BJP alleges Karnataka’s Shakti Yojana has left transport corporations burdened, with unpaid dues rising to ₹4,220.63 crore over three years, weakening their financial strength

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has sharply criticized the Congress government’s Shakti Yojana, alleging that the scheme of ‘free tickets’ has reduced the financial strength of Karnataka’s transport corporations. BJP leaders accused the government of prioritizing political gains over the sustainability of public transport, claiming that behind the ‘colorful word free’ lies a ‘story of destruction.’

At a press briefing, BJP leader Narayana Swamy released documents highlighting the mounting dues owed to transport corporations under the Shakti Yojana. According to the figures, the outstanding reimbursement amounts have grown significantly over three financial years: ₹1,180.62 crore in 2023–24, ₹1,170.46 crore in 2024–25, and ₹1,869.56 crore projected for 2025–26. The total outstanding now stands at ₹4,220.63 crore.

The BJP argued that this burden has ‘strangled’ the corporations, reducing their operational power and weakening their ability to serve commuters effectively. Party spokespersons mocked the government’s claims of empowerment, insisting that the scheme has instead created a ‘mountain of debt.’

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However, government officials countered that the administration has saved hundreds of crores for transport corporations in the past three years, suggesting that the scheme has provided relief rather than harm. 

The debate underscores the growing tension between welfare promises and fiscal sustainability. While the Congress government defends Shakti Yojana as a social measure benefiting lakhs of women commuters, the BJP maintains that unchecked populism is eroding the foundations of Karnataka’s transport system.

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