Patna: The Bihar State Road Transport Corporation (BSRTC) is set to induct 549 new buses into its fleet, including electric buses under the Central government’s PM e-Bus Sewa scheme. The expansion is expected to increase the Corporation’s fleet strength to more than 1,500 buses and significantly enhance public transport services across Bihar.
At present, BSRTC operates more than 960 buses, including vehicles running under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. According to the Corporation, these buses serve more than one lakh passengers every day. With the addition of the new fleet, daily passenger capacity is expected to exceed two lakh.
200 PM e-Buses to Arrive by End of August
BSRTC said around 200 of the 400 PM e-Buses allocated to Bihar by the Central government are expected to arrive by the end of August.
In addition to the electric buses, the Corporation is inducting 74 non-AC deluxe buses and 75 AC deluxe buses to strengthen services on inter-regional and inter-state routes.
The air-conditioned e-buses will primarily operate across BSRTC’s six divisions—Patna, Gaya, Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga and Purnia. Some of these vehicles will be introduced as Pink Buses, reserved for women to support safer public transport.
According to the Corporation, each electric bus can travel approximately 180 kilometres on a single charge.
Focus on Cleaner Transport
Raj Kumar, Secretary of the Transport Department, said the introduction of electric buses would reduce diesel consumption and carbon emissions, contributing to cleaner urban air.
He added that the expanded fleet would improve public transport within cities while also strengthening connectivity on rural and inter-state routes, providing better travel options for passengers across Bihar.
