Tired of standing? KSRTC orders seat reservation for men on buses

Bengaluru: The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has issued a directive to ensure seat reservation for men on its buses. 

The decision comes after a complaint from a Mysuru resident, Vishnuvardhan, who raised concerns about the lack of seating availability for men following the implementation of the ‘Shakti scheme', which offers free travel for women.  

With a significant increase in female passengers under the scheme, many male commuters have been forced to stand during their journeys. Responding to the complaint, Mysuru City Divisional Controller H.T. Veeresh instructed bus staff to ensure that designated seats for men are available.  

Although the government had previously mandated that 50% of seats be reserved for men, this rule was not consistently enforced. Veeresh has now directed strict compliance with the regulation and asked staff to submit reports on its implementation.  

Under the revised seating arrangement, the front half of the bus will have reserved seats for women, while the rear seats will be designated for men.