A Bengaluru resident has ignited a heated discussion on social media over the fairness and sustainability of Karnataka’s free bus travel scheme for women. Kiran Kumar, who recently took an early morning Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus from Bengaluru to Mysuru, shared his observations in a post on X (formerly Twitter), questioning the policy’s equity.
Kumar detailed his journey, which cost him Rs 210, describing the experience as “comfortable” due to the well-maintained bus and the world-class highway. However, he raised concerns about the disparity in fare distribution among passengers.
“I took an early morning bus to Mysuru, from Bengaluru. Rs 210 fare. Comfortable KSRTC bus and a world-class highway for fast travel. But I got a few thoughts,” he began, before outlining his concerns:
“1) Nearly 30 of the 50 passengers were women. Just show Aadhar and travel free. Is this fair? Is it equality?
2) 20 men are paying for the entire bus. Is that fair?
3) Saw an old man struggling to find notes to pay, while a well-off young woman on a video call next to him travels free. Is that fair?”
Kumar went on to question why, if the state had a surplus income, the free bus scheme couldn’t be extended to all passengers. “Why not make it free for these 20 men as well?” he asked, proposing a universal free bus service similar to airport shuttles.
He also criticised the broader implications of such schemes, writing: “All over the world, subsidy and welfare are given to those who can't afford it. Here, we have women from two rich cities like Bengaluru and Mysuru, travelling free just because it is available. Is it sustainable? Couldn’t the same freebie money be used for garbage clearance, pothole fixing in cities, or providing water to farmers?
“We have entered the vicious cycle of freebies for votes. Tough to get out of it in the near future.”
Since being posted, Kumar’s remarks have garnered over one million views and sparked a debate online. Responses varied, with some users agreeing with his critique and others defending the scheme as a step toward gender equality.
One user offered a historical perspective: “For approximately 300,000 years since the dawn of humankind, women were largely confined to the home, tasked with raising children, caring for elders, and cooking, while men enjoyed the freedom to roam and explore. Was this fair?”
Another user highlighted the logistical challenges of means-based subsidies:
“We have so much diversity that no rule can be fair to all at any point in time. Nothing stops women who are capable of paying, but setting up a complex system to decide who should pay and who shouldn’t will not work. There is still so much disparity in the workforce.”
Others, however, sided with Kumar. “Many of these ladies would have otherwise driven their cars or booked an Ola Outstation to Mysore. Now they travel for free on taxpayers’ money. I am against freebies for anyone—male or female,” one user wrote.
Another comment argued for targeting the scheme at those in need: “Free bus travel should be for the poor, irrespective of men or women, and not for all. That makes sense.”
Some users suggested more measured approaches: “At best, they could make it a 25% or 50% concession for intercity travel if they want to make it attractive during elections.”
Meanwhile, the free bus travel scheme for women, introduced by the Karnataka government earlier this year, has been praised by some as a progressive step towards gender inclusivity but criticised by others as unsustainable and poorly targeted.
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