Patna launches 25 electric and pink buses for Secretariat employees
Synopsis
Bihar has launched a dedicated 25-bus fleet — 15 electric and 10 pink — exclusively for Patna Secretariat employees, with pink buses reserved for women. It is a rare instance of a state government directly provisioning gender-specific, emission-free commute infrastructure for its own workforce.
Key Takeaways
BSRTC launched 25 buses — 15 electric and 10 pink — for Patna Secretariat employees on 18 May 2025 .
The 10 pink buses are reserved exclusively for women employees .
Buses operate on 5 routes across Patna, including from Patna Junction and Danapur railway station .
The service was flagged off by Transport Minister Damodar Rawat .
The initiative aims to reduce dependence on private vehicles and cut petrol and diesel consumption in the state capital.
The Bihar State Road Transport Corporation (BSRTC) on Monday, 18 May launched a dedicated fleet of 25 buses — including 15 electric buses and 10 pink buses — for Patna Secretariat employees, aiming to ease traffic congestion and promote eco-friendly commuting in the state capital. The service was flagged off by Transport Minister Damodar Rawat in the presence of senior officials.
Key Details of the Fleet
Of the 25 buses deployed, the 10 pink buses have been reserved exclusively for women employees. The remaining 15 electric buses will serve the broader Secretariat workforce. BSRTC Administrator Atul Kumar Verma and Additional Secretary Praveen Kumar were among the officials present at the launch event.
Five Routes Across the City
The buses will operate on five routes covering key corridors of Patna. Route 1 runs from the Multi-Modal Hub (Patna Junction) to the Secretariat via R-Block, Income Tax, Vidyut Bhawan, Patna High Court, and Bihar Museum, with departures at 8.30 am, 8.40 am, and 8.45 am. Route 2 connects Danapur railway station to the Secretariat via Saguna Mor, RPS Mor, Gola Road, Jagdeo Path, Ashiana Nagar, IGIMS, Sheikhpura Mor, and Patna Zoo, with buses at 8.15 am, 8.25 am, and 8.30 am. Additional routes cover Dhanuki Mor, Kurji, and Gandhi Maidan.
What the Government Said
Transport Minister Damodar Rawat described the initiative as part of a broader push to strengthen public transportation and advance sustainable mobility. 'Electric buses will help protect the environment while offering an affordable commuting option to government employees. This initiative also supports the goal of reducing petrol and diesel consumption,' he said.
Transport Secretary Raj Kumar said the primary objective was to provide reliable and convenient transport to employees travelling from different parts of the city and improve the efficiency of daily commuting.
Why It Matters
Thousands of Secretariat staff currently commute daily in personal vehicles, adding to Patna's traffic burden and fuel consumption. According to officials, the scheme is designed to reduce this dependence on private transport. This comes amid Bihar's broader push toward cleaner urban mobility, with electric bus induction increasingly seen as a practical lever for state capitals grappling with pollution and congestion. Notably, the dedicated pink bus service for women signals a gender-responsive dimension to the policy — a feature gaining traction in several Indian cities.
What Happens Next
The BSRTC is expected to monitor ridership and route efficiency in the initial weeks. If uptake among Secretariat employees is strong, officials may consider expanding the fleet or extending services to other government offices in the city.
Point of View
Reducing the financial risk that has plagued many state EV bus rollouts. The pink bus component is a meaningful step, but its impact hinges on whether routes and timings actually match women employees' commute patterns. The deeper question is whether BSRTC can sustain and scale this model beyond the Secretariat, or whether it remains a high-visibility pilot that does not alter Patna's broader traffic and pollution calculus.
NationPress
3 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many buses have been launched for Patna Secretariat employees?
A total of 25 buses have been deployed — 15 electric buses and 10 pink buses. The pink buses are reserved exclusively for women employees of the Secretariat.
What routes will the new Patna Secretariat buses cover?
The buses operate on five routes, including from the Multi-Modal Hub at Patna Junction and Danapur railway station to the Secretariat. Additional routes cover Dhanuki Mor, Kurji, and Gandhi Maidan.
Who launched the electric and pink bus service in Patna?
The service was flagged off by Bihar Transport Minister Damodar Rawat on 18 May 2025. Senior officials including BSRTC Administrator Atul Kumar Verma and Additional Secretary Praveen Kumar were present at the launch.
Why were pink buses introduced for Secretariat employees?
The 10 pink buses have been dedicated exclusively to women employees to provide them a safe and reliable commuting option. The move reflects a gender-responsive approach to public transport provisioning.
What is the goal of the BSRTC bus service for Secretariat staff?
The primary goal is to reduce traffic congestion in Patna by cutting the dependence of government employees on private vehicles, while also lowering petrol and diesel consumption and promoting eco-friendly commuting.
