Karnataka govt's Shakti scheme creates world record for most women travelled in public transport
Bengaluru, Aug 18 (PTI): Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Monday said the state's Shakti Yojana guarantee scheme has set a world record for the largest number of women passengers travelling on public transport.
“Between June 11, 2023 and July 20, 500 crore women passengers travelled on ticketed journeys. This feat has entered the Golden Book of World Records,” said the minister.
US-based Golden Book of World Record (GBWR) is an Exclusive International Book of Records that aims to give a platform to people or organisations to have their name in the “golden pages of history”.
The minister thanked Karnataka State Regional Transport Corporation (KSRTC), Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), North West Karnataka Road Transport and Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporations for the historic achievement.
“The hard work, dedication and honest service of all the staff is commendable. The cooperation of the labour leaders cannot be forgotten as well,” he added.
The Shakti Yojana Guarantee Scheme was implemented immediately after he assumed office as the transport minister for the second time, he said.
“Five to six years prior to that, no new buses were added to the transport corporations, which were debt ridden. Given that, the success now, a result of collective work, has given me immense pleasure,” said Reddy.
According to him, in the two years of Shakti Yojana, 5,800 new buses were added to the transport corporations, as well as 10,000 new recruitments were made. He also said the Karnataka government has pumped in Rs 2,000 crore to pay off loans.
Reddy also cited ‘Beyond Free Rides’ Sustainable Mobility Network’s study conducted on free bus travel for women in cities and said the number of female employees has increased by 23 per cent in Bengaluru and 21 per cent in Hubli-Dharwad due to Shakti Yojana.
The minister said this has led to an increase in the per capita income of the state.
“The fact that several other states in the country are now implementing similar schemes -- under different names and with suitable adaptations -- stands as a testament to the success of our government’s Shakti Scheme,” he added.
Meanwhile, taking to 'X', Chief Minister Siddarmaiah said the credit for the achievement should go to the "mothers and sisters of Karnataka", who travel daily for purposes such as employment, education and medical treatment.
"From the day it was launched, Shakti Yojana, is a bold step towards women's empowerment," he added.
ಶಕ್ತಿ ಯೋಜನೆ ಪ್ರತಿಷ್ಠಿತ ವಿಶ್ವ ದಾಖಲೆಗೆ ಸೇರ್ಪಡೆ Golden Book of World Recordsನಲ್ಲಿ ದಾಖಲು- ಅತೀವ ಸಂತಸ ಮತ್ತು ಹೆಮ್ಮೆಯ ಕ್ಷಣ.
— Ramalinga Reddy (@RLR_BTM) August 18, 2025
ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ಮಹತ್ವಾಕಾಂಕ್ಷೆ ಯೋಜನೆ ಹಾಗೂ ಮಹಿಳಾ ಸಬಲೀಕರಣದ ದಿಟ್ಟ ಯೋಜನೆಯಾದ ಶಕ್ತಿ ಯೋಜನೆಯು Golden Book of World Records ನಲ್ಲಿ ಅತಿ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಮಹಿಳಾ ಪ್ರಯಾಣಿಕರು ಪ್ರಯಾಣಿಸಿರುವ… pic.twitter.com/HMqN2npqpk
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
