Bihar CM flags off PM e-Bus fleet and BSRTC deluxe buses in Patna
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
The Chief Minister's Office of Bihar announced on Saturday, 25 July 2026 that the Chief Minister flagged off a fleet of electric buses under the Pradhan Mantri e-Bus Sewa Yojana and a new deluxe bus fleet of the Bihar State Road Transport Corporation (BSRTC) at a ceremony organised by the state Transport Department at Veterinary College Ground, Patna.
Context
The ceremony, held at Veterinary College Ground in the state capital, saw the Chief Minister give the ceremonial green flag — haari jhandi dikhakar ravana kiya (flagged off) — to both the electric buses operating under the central scheme and the newly inducted deluxe coaches of the state-run transport body. The event was organised by Bihar's Transport Department and marks a visible expansion of the state's public bus network.
The post from the official Chief Minister's Office account stated that the electric buses are to be operated under the Pradhan Mantri e-Bus Sewa Yojana, the Central government's flagship scheme for deploying electric buses in cities across India.
Policy Backdrop
The PM e-Bus Sewa scheme was approved by the Central government in 2023 with the mandate to fund and deploy electric buses across 169 cities nationwide, as part of India's broader push to decarbonise urban public transport. The initiative builds on the foundation laid by the FAME (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles) mission, which has driven electrification of public fleets since its inception.
Bihar's participation in the scheme places Patna among the cities receiving centrally supported electric buses, integrating national green mobility targets with state-level transport planning. The simultaneous induction of a new BSRTC deluxe bus fleet signals a parallel effort to upgrade inter-city and intra-state road connectivity through state resources.
Stakeholders and Impact
Urban commuters and inter-city travellers in Bihar stand to benefit most directly from the expanded fleet. Electric buses reduce both particulate emissions and operating costs over time, offering a cleaner alternative on city routes currently served by ageing diesel vehicles.
The Bihar State Road Transport Corporation, as the operating entity, will manage the new electric buses alongside its expanded deluxe fleet. Improved fleet quality and coverage can support ridership growth and reduce dependence on private and informal transport options across the state.
What's Next
Attention will now turn to the rollout of additional electric buses under the PM e-Bus Sewa Yojana to other cities in Bihar beyond Patna, as well as any updates to the state's broader electric vehicle policy framework. The integration of charging infrastructure and maintenance protocols for the new electric fleet will be a key operational milestone to watch.
Bihar's move also fits within a national pattern of states progressively committing to greener public transport, and further announcements on route coverage and fleet size are expected as the programme scales.