Patna: The Bihar Transport Department has announced a series of measures aimed at expanding public transport infrastructure, including the addition of 50 pink buses, development of modern bus stands, and rollout of an Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) across the state.
Pink Bus Expansion for Women Safety
Transport Minister Damodar Rawat said the department will introduce 50 additional pink buses to improve safe and reliable travel options for women. The announcement was made during a press conference at the IPRD conference hall in Patna.
The state currently operates 100 pink buses across Patna, Muzaffarpur, Gaya, Bhagalpur, Darbhanga and Purnea.
Officials said the buses are equipped with CCTV cameras, GPS tracking and panic buttons for enhanced safety monitoring. The department has also trained 100 women drivers and plans further training for Light and Heavy Motor Vehicle categories.
31 Modern Bus Stands Planned
The department will develop 31 modern bus stands across Bihar under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. Cities including Patna, Muzaffarpur, Gaya, Bhagalpur, Purnea, Darbhanga, Kishanganj, Motihari and Biharsharif are part of the proposal.
Transport officials said the bus stands will be modelled on facilities in Noida and Mumbai and will include waiting lounges, digital information systems, clean drinking water, toilets, parking areas, eateries, passenger help centres and security arrangements.
ITMS to Strengthen Traffic Monitoring
State Transport Secretary Raj Kumar said the Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) will be implemented under PPP mode to improve road safety and enforcement of traffic rules.
The system will be installed at 500 locations in two phases, with 200 sites covered in the first phase. A central command and control centre will be set up in Patna, while district-level viewing centres will be established across all 38 districts.
Officials said the system will enable electronic challan enforcement, data-driven monitoring and expanded surveillance beyond urban areas, including highways and remote regions.
Inter-State AC Bus Services
The department will procure 149 air-conditioned buses for inter-state routes, including services connecting Bihar with Delhi, Punjab and Haryana.
Officials said the expansion aims to improve long-distance travel comfort and connectivity for passengers.
School Bus Monitoring and “Where is My Bus” Software
The department is also developing a dedicated software system to monitor school buses and ensure compliance with Supreme Court guidelines.
In addition, a passenger tracking application titled “Where is my bus” is being developed to provide real-time location and estimated arrival information. The system is expected to be launched within one to one-and-a-half months.
Officials added that all BSRTC buses are already equipped with electronic ticketing machines, allowing digital payments through QR codes, debit cards and credit cards.
