Chirag Gupta
Patna: Bihar State Road Transport Corporation (BSRTC) has initiated bus operations on six different routes from IGIMS to enhance connectivity for patients and their relatives. Health Minister Mangal Pandey, Transport Minister Sheela Kumari, Bihar Assembly Member Sanjeev Chaurasia, and Transport Secretary Sanjay Kumar Agarwal flagged off the new bus service. This initiative aims to offer convenience to the large number of people visiting IGIMS for treatment.
City service buses on routes from Danapur to Gandhi Maidan, Gandhi Maidan to Patna Junction, and Danapur Junction will now have stoppages within the IGIMS campus. This will benefit patients traveling to and from Patna Junction, Danapur Junction, Gandhi Maidan, and Bairia Bus Stand, eliminating the need to walk to the main road to catch a bus. The new service will include six state-of-the-art CNG buses making a total of 52 trips per day.
Health Minister Mangal Pandey expressed gratitude to the Transport Department, highlighting that the new bus facility will provide significant relief to patients in commuting. Transport Minister Sheela Kumari emphasized that adding buses on various routes ensures the convenience of common people and facilitates easy access to IGIMS for treatment.
Transport Secretary Sanjay Kumar Agarwal stated that with the new bus facility, patients will no longer have to walk to the main road for transportation to major destinations in Patna. This service is an important facility not only for IGIMS patients and their relatives but also for the entire city of Patna. The goal is to provide safe, comfortable, and economical travel to passengers, with plans to expand similar services to more routes in the future.
A total of six CNG buses will operate from the IGIMS campus on various routes. All buses will have an e-ticketing system, and 65 percent of seats will be reserved for women. Special seats will also be available for differently-abled individuals, senior citizens, and transgender persons. Payment options will include prepaid cards, monthly passes, and daily passes to cater to the convenience of passengers.
To ensure passenger safety, all buses are equipped with CCTV cameras and panic buttons. Passengers can contact the control center in case of an emergency. Additionally, the real-time location of the buses can be tracked through the Chalo app, helping passengers plan their journeys more efficiently.
The new bus service will operate on three major routes. The first route will cover Saguna Mor-Gola Road-Patliputra Station Mor-Jagdevpath-Ashiana Mor-IGIMS-Secretariat-Income Tax Golambar-Patna Junction, with two buses making 20 trips daily. The second route will cover IGIMS-Secretariat-Income Tax Golambar-Patna Junction-Rajendra Nagar Terminal-NMCH-Dhanuki Mor-Zero Mile, with two buses making 16 trips daily. The third route will cover Saguna Mor-Gola Road-Pataliputra Station Mor-Jagdevpath-Ashiana Mor-IGIMS-Secretariat-Income Tax Golambar-Patna Junction-Rajendra Nagar Terminal-NMCH-Dhanuki Mor-Zero Mile, with two buses making 16 trips daily.
Administrator of BSRTC, Abhay Jha, mentioned that the fare has been fixed at a minimum of Rs 6, ensuring it is affordable for passengers. This comprehensive service aims to provide continuous and regular transportation, enhancing the overall travel experience for patients and residents of Patna.
