BANGALORE:  Working women and school-going children will get free rides in public buses from April 1, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said on Tuesday, February 21.

Speaking after dedicating  Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation's Volvo Multi Axel BS4-9600 sleeper buses ahead of the polls in Bangalore, he said the purpose of chalking out this scheme was to enable women to become self-reliant.

The existing buses will be used to launch the operation while mini school buses are still needed. Each taluk must operate a minimum of five buses at the time of the commencement of the school year. If further grants are required, they will be given out, he said.

The state budget for FY 2023–2024 said that “Transportation plays a significant part in economic development, and as such, it has been given priority and announced free pass facility for working women and school children. He said, "Our government is always with the working personnel and the management; let us give the commuters a wonderful service."

The Chief Minister stated that earlier in the day, a special transport team known as "Ambari" was sent to the state that has the sleeping facility. This fleet of buses offers a number of useful amenities similar to those found in sleeper coaches on trains.

The previous edition of Volvo buses was not comfortable and understanding this the multi-axel buses have been designed to offer good facilities to commuters. Henceforth, the night journey on these buses will be comfortable. The Karnataka state transport corporation should buy some more buses, he said.

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