Ladies only buses to ply on city roads from Today

Patna, May 13: Women in the city travelling in ramshackle autorickshaws will get a safer mode of transport the day after. Fifteen new buses reserved for them will hit the city streets.

These vehicles will be a part of a 70-strong city bus service fleet that will be inaugurated by chief minister Nitish Kumar at the Raj Bhavan on Sunday. The service has been developed on a public-private partnership between Bihar State Road Transport Corporation and Eden Transport Private Limited.

“All the buses have been equipped with closed circuit TV cameras, especially to curb crime against female passengers,” said Sachidanand Sahai, chairman-cum-managing director, Eden Transport Private Limited. He said the cameras would also assist in nabbing thieves and pickpockets.

Besides better security, the bus passengers can expect a number of facilities during their journey.

“A music system has been installed in each bus to entertain passengers, who may suffer from monotony during the long journey,” said Shashi Bhusan Rai, operational head, Eden Transport Private Limited.

He added: “Besides women, seats have been reserved for senior citizens and physically challenged persons in each bus.”

The buses will ply on seven different routes. Their colour will vary from one route to another for easy recognition. They will be monitored through global positioning system.

Twelve red buses will ply on route 1. These buses will take passengers to Birla Military Police camp, Phulwarisharif, Anisabad, Chitkohra, R Block, GPO roundabout, Frazer Road and Gandhi Maidan. If you want to go to Patna Junction, Income Tax roundabout, Saguna Mor or Danapur, you can take one of the 18 blue buses of route number 2.

For route number 3, all the 12 buses will be green and they will take you to Rajapur Pul, Kurji and Digha. Board the six orange buses on route number 4 if your destination is New Bypass, Pahadi Mor, Kurji or Digha.

Those who want to go to St Michael’s School, IAS Colony, Bailey Road and Gandhi Maidan would do well to board one of the six blue buses on route five. If you are a student of IIT-Patna or reside in Patliputra, you might consider taking one of the 12 sky blue buses on route 6.

The four yellow buses on route 7 will take you to Gandhi Maidan, Patna Medical College and Hospital and Gai Ghat.

In two months, eight air-conditioned buses will also be catering to passengers on route 2 and 6.

Uday Singh Kumawat, secretary, transport department, said: “The new service will benefit the people and ease the journey.”