Patna: Commuters in Patna would soon enjoy cleaner and more comfortable travel, with 150 air-conditioned electric buses, including 50 pink buses for women, expected to be introduced by July under the PM e-Bus Sewa Scheme. More 200 buses would be rolled out across the state gradually, taking the total count to 400, said a transport department official.The rollout will formally begin with the signing of a ‘concession agreement’ between Bihar State Road Transport Corporation (BSRTC) under the transport department and GreenCell Mobility on Wednesday in Patna. Transport minister Damodar Rawat will attend the event as the chief guest. Transport department secretary Raj Kumar, state transport commissioner Arif Ahsan and BSRTC administrator Atul Kumar Verma are also expected to be present during the ceremony.Transport secretary said the introduction of a total of 400 AC electric buses in the state under the scheme will provide a new impetus to urban public transport. This will provide passengers with safe, comfortable, and modern travel, while also significantly contributing to reducing pollution and promoting green transportation, he added.BSRTC administrator said under the PM e-Bus Sewa Scheme, Bihar has been allotted 400 AC electric buses, comprising 200 nine-metre buses and 200 12-metre buses. “The buses will be deployed across six major cities of the state, with Patna receiving 150 buses, while Gaya, Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga and Purnia will each get 50 buses,” he told TOI on Tuesday.He added: “Out of these buses, 50 electric AC buses will be operated as pink buses to provide safe and hassle-free public transport facility to women. The remaining 150 electric AC buses will be saffron-coloured and will operate on various routes.”As part of the transition towards green mobility, the BSRTC is preparing to gradually phase out CNG buses from Patna.The buses will operate on 14 routes connecting key locations within Patna as well as important destinations in neighbouring districts. These routes include Kargil Chowk-Danapur Station; Danapur Station-IGIMS; Kargil Chowk-Koilwar; Kargil Chowk-Patna Sahib Station; Kargil Chowk-AIIMS; Kargil Chowk-Phulwarisharif Bus Terminal; Patna-Biharsharif; Patna-Rajgir; Patna-Muzaffarpur; Patna-Paliganj; Kargil Chowk-Bihta IIT; Patna-Chhapra; Patna-Hajipur and Patna-Darbhanga. The Kargil Chowk-Danapur Station route will have the highest deployment with 30 buses.Besides, charging infrastructure will be developed in six cities for smooth operation of e-buses. Once charged, these buses can ply up to 180km.
