Free bus passes to all school students likely

The Transport department has proposed to the state government to extend the facility of free bus passes to all primary and high school students, regardless of their caste.

Transport Minister H M Revanna said the Transport Department, along with Social Welfare Department, has been providing free bus passes to students of the SC and ST communities under a special programme.

"Students of other categories have also requested free bus pass. We have proposed to the government to extend the scheme to primary and high school students from all categories," he said, indicating that an announcement in this regard may be made in the state budget on Friday.

At present, students get bus passes at concessional rate. The new proposal seeks to waive that and provide the pass completely free of cost.

The minister also said he has requested Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to announce 'Indira Sarige' in the budget.