Patna: The number of vehicles in Bihar has been continuously increasing over the years, as highlighted in the latest Economic Survey Report 2023-24. While two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and tractors have witnessed significant growth in registrations, the number of buses and trucks has shown a declining trend.
According to the report, 65.07 lakh two-wheelers have been registered in Bihar from 2017-18 to 2023-24. Among three-wheelers, 4.27 lakh autos and e-rickshaws have been registered. However, bus registrations have seen a noticeable drop. While 6,000 buses were registered in 2017-18, the number fell to 4,000 in 2019-20. From 2020-21 to 2023-24, only 15,000 buses were registered in total.
Similarly, truck registrations have been on a steady decline. In 2017-18, Bihar registered 23,000 trucks, but the numbers have continuously decreased from 2020-21 onwards, bringing the total to 1.46 lakh trucks by 2023-24.
On the other hand, tractor registrations have seen a consistent rise. The figures stood at 33,000 in 2017-18, 28,000 in 2018-19, 34,000 in 2019-20, 46,000 in 2020-21, and 38,000 in 2023-24.
Agreements with Neighboring States to Boost Transport
To improve inter-state road transport, the Bihar government has entered into multiple agreements with neighboring states. The agreements cover 200 routes with Jharkhand, 28 with Chhattisgarh, 16 with Odisha, 45 with West Bengal, and 34 with Uttar Pradesh.
Additionally, Bihar shares an international border with Nepal, and frequent travel occurs between the two regions for economic, social, cultural, and religious reasons. The state government has also expanded public transportation within Bihar, operating 581 buses in rural and urban areas, along with 300 buses under a public-private partnership (PPP) model.
With vehicle numbers on the rise, Bihar ranks among the top states in India in terms of registered vehicles, following Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Rajasthan.
Patna Metro Project Gains Momentum
The Economic Survey also sheds light on the progress of the Patna Metro Rail Project. So far, 78.02 acres of land has been acquired, while an additional 2.75 acres is in the process of acquisition. The project has also received NOC (No Objection Certificate) for 17.15 acres of land owned by the Central and State Governments.
As of now, ₹3,402.09 crore has been allocated for the project, with ₹872.50 crore coming from the Central Government and ₹2,529.59 crore from the State Government. For the financial year 2024-25, a provision of ₹380 crore has been made.
The Bihar government has also proposed metro rail projects in four more densely populated cities: Muzaffarpur, Gaya, Darbhanga, and Bhagalpur. These projects will follow the same financing model as Patna Metro, with the Central and State Governments contributing 20% each, while the remaining 60% will be financed through external financial institutions.
The continuous expansion of transportation infrastructure in Bihar is expected to boost connectivity, improve public transport efficiency, and support economic growth in the state.
