Karnataka govt to roll out smartcards for Shakti scheme beneficiaries within two months: Report
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Bengaluru: Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy said that the Karnataka government is planning to roll out smartcards for beneficiaries of the Shakti scheme within the next two months.
The move is aimed at improving efficiency, preventing misuse, and streamlining expenditure under the popular scheme that provides free bus travel for women domiciled in the state. The scheme has also overwhelmed city bus conductors, who are often at their wits’ end to issue tickets to beneficiaries quickly, as reported by Deccan Herald.
The Shakti scheme, which recently marked its second anniversary, has issued over 474 crore tickets since its inception. As of Tuesday, the initiative has cost the government Rs 11,994.37 crore.
Reddy confirmed that the operational blueprint for the smartcard system has been worked out and submitted to the Finance Department for approval. “Once we receive the Finance Department’s clearance, the matter will go to the cabinet for final approval. We aim to implement it in about two months,” DH quoted the minister as saying.
Each smartcard will be embedded with a computer chip capable of recording beneficiary’s key travel data, including boarding and alighting points, travel distance, and fare value.
The smartcards will also feature beneficiary photographs and domicile information, allowing users to simply tap their card on Electronic Ticketing Machines (ETMs) instead of presenting their ID.
Reddy declined to provide an estimate of the total rollout cost, stating that discussions are ongoing. “We’re still deciding who will bear the cost — whether it will be the beneficiary, the bus corporations or the government,” he said.
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Mangaluru International Airport earns ACI Level 4 accreditation for customer experience
Mangaluru (Karnataka), Jul 26 (PTI): Mangaluru International Airport has earned the prestigious Level 4 accreditation in Airport Customer Experience from Airports Council International (ACI), positioning itself among a select group of global airports recognised for excellence in customer-centric service, officials said on Saturday.
The accreditation, awarded on July 16, 2025, is valid for one year and follows the airport’s attainment of Level 3 accreditation in February 2024, they said.
According to a statement from the airport spokesperson here, the ACI programme is the first global initiative dedicated to advancing customer experience management in the aviation sector.
According to ACI, Level 4 accreditation demonstrates a strong foundation of customer-focused practices and a readiness for the strategic, enterprise-wide transformation required to reach Level 5 — the highest level of the programme.
Over the past year, the airport has implemented several key initiatives including the launch of the Adani OneApp and Digi Yatra, deployment of AI-based surveillance systems, smart cleaning robots, improved flight information displays, and free Wi-Fi kiosks. These upgrades have not only enhanced operational efficiency but also improved the overall passenger experience, it stated.
The spokesperson for the airport said, “This Level 4 accreditation is a testament to our team’s dedication to providing a seamless and memorable journey for travellers. We remain committed to being a modern and efficient gateway for the region.”
The airport’s strategy, customer insights, digital innovation, and governance were among the factors evaluated for the accreditation.
