Free Bus Passes For Students, ₹2,000 Crore For Bengaluru Roads: DK Shivakumar Govt's First Decisions

Hours after taking oath as Karnataka's Chief Minister, D K Shivakumar chaired his maiden Cabinet meeting on Wednesday and unveiled a slew of youth-centric and urban development initiatives, including free bus passes for students, revival of employment exchanges for private jobs, creation of 10,000 Bharat Jodo youth units and a ₹2,000 crore road development package for Bengaluru.

Addressing the media after the meeting, Shivakumar said the government's first set of decisions were aimed at empowering the state's youth while laying the groundwork for long-term governance reforms.

Free Bus Passes For Students

One of the key announcements was the extension of free travel benefits to students across Karnataka. The move comes alongside the existing Shakti scheme, which provides free bus travel for women.

"Whenever I visited different regions, boys would ask why free bus travel was available only for girls. We have now decided to provide free bus passes for students. They will have to apply for the passes," Shivakumar said.

The decision is expected to benefit lakhs of students who rely on public transport for daily travel to schools and colleges.

Employment Exchange To Be Revived

The government also announced plans to revive employment exchange facilities to help young people secure opportunities in the private sector.

The initiative is aimed at bridging the gap between job seekers and employers, while creating a structured platform for youth employment.

10,000 Bharat Jodo Youth Units Planned

In a major grassroots outreach initiative, the Congress government announced the formation of 10,000 Bharat Jodo youth associations across Karnataka.

According to Shivakumar, one youth association will be established in every gram panchayat, while urban units will be created at the ward level. Each unit is expected to comprise around 150 to 200 young members.

The government will provide a grant of ₹10 lakh to each association.

These units will focus on sports, cultural activities, leadership development, social harmony and youth engagement programmes.

Political observers view the initiative as the Congress' attempt to strengthen its grassroots youth network and counter the influence of organisations affiliated with the BJP and RSS.

Farmers' Issues Remain Top Priority

While no major decisions were announced for farmers, Shivakumar said the Cabinet extensively discussed agricultural concerns.

He noted that consultations with experts and bureaucrats would be required before finalising policies aimed at supporting agriculture, horticulture and dairy farming.

"Resolving farmers' problems is our priority. We must prevent migration from villages to cities for jobs and education," he said.

Relief For Property Owners

The Cabinet also cleared several measures related to urban property regularisation.

Among them is a proposal to regularise smaller properties of up to 2,500 square feet that currently lack occupancy or completion certificates due to deviations from approved plans. The move would help property owners access civic amenities such as water and other services.

The government also decided to extend the B-Khata to A-Khata conversion facility across Karnataka, expanding a scheme that was earlier limited to Bengaluru.

Calling it a "land guarantee", Shivakumar said the government aims to provide citizens with proper documentation and records for their properties.

₹2,000 Crore For Bengaluru Roads

For Bengaluru, the new Chief Minister announced a dedicated grant of ₹2,000 crore for road asphalting works across the city.

The funds will be used for roads not already covered under existing infrastructure projects.

"We have decided to complete the asphalting of roads within three to four months," Shivakumar said.

The announcement comes amid growing concerns over the condition of Bengaluru's roads and traffic infrastructure.

'Criticise Us, But Don't Fabricate News'

Shivakumar, who has spent nearly four decades in politics, also appealed to the media to hold his government accountable while avoiding misinformation.

"The people of the state have reposed immense faith in me. Criticisms die, but work remains. Let the media criticise us or point out our mistakes, but do not fabricate baseless political news," he said.

With a focus on youth welfare, employment, infrastructure and property reforms, the new Chief Minister's first Cabinet decisions provide an early glimpse into the priorities of the Congress government in Karnataka.