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Bihar is set to expand its women-only pink bus service, with 50 of the 400 new PM e-buses being added to the Bihar State Road Transport Corporation (BSRTC) fleet this financial year. BSRTC administrator Atul Verma said the new buses will strengthen the service, which has become an important and trusted travel option for women in Patna, Muzaffarpur and Gaya.
Bihar's Women-only Pink Bus Service
An impact assessment by MicroSave Consulting found that 93% of surveyed women chose pink buses mainly because they felt safer. The service received an average satisfaction score of 4.6 out of 5, while 95% of women said they preferred pink buses over other transport options.
However, usage remains below potential due to limited routes and irregular timings. In Patna, only 17% of women surveyed regularly use pink buses, although half travel every day. About 39% identified irregular timings as a major problem, while 21% pointed to limited route coverage. Nearly half were unaware of schedules and depended on WhatsApp groups or waiting at bus stops.
Bihar's Pink Bus Usages
Students account for 47% of passengers and salaried women for 35%. Women who travel for education and work-related journeys make up 78% of trips. About 60% of women said their travel costs had fallen by 28-35% after switching from autos and e-rickshaws. Another 56% felt more confident travelling independently, while 27-31% of families became more comfortable allowing women to travel alone.
How have these Pink Buses helped Women?
The initiative has also created jobs for women. BSRTC has identified 21 women drivers, with six currently enrolled, along with 120 women conductors. Others are awaiting heavy-vehicle licences after completing nearly a year of training.
However, women staff reported long 12- 13-hour shifts, delayed salaries, irregular duty schedules, inadequate washrooms and harassment. The report recommended better tracking systems, awareness campaigns, timely salaries, grievance mechanisms, POSH training and childcare facilities.
The pink bus network has grown from 20 buses in May 2025 to 80 by September 2025. Currently, Patna has 30, Gaya 15, Muzaffarpur 20, Darbhanga 11, Purnia 10 and Bhagalpur 14 buses. Equipped with CCTV, GPS, panic buttons, sanitary napkins, contraceptive pills, charging points and music systems, the initiative also won the SKOCH Award 2026 for governance and innovation.