Patna: Women in Bihar will be able to travel free of cost on Bihar State Road Transport Corporation (BSRTC) buses during Raksha Bandhan.The BSRTC will provide free travel to women on around 1,075 buses from 6am on Aug 27 to 10pm on Aug 28. The facility will be available across all categories of buses operated by the corporation, including AC, non-AC, deluxe, PM e-buses and buses running under the public-private partnership (PPP) model.The BSRTC has issued instructions to all regional officials to ensure that the arrangement is implemented smoothly. Women travelling on inter-district and inter-state routes will also be eligible for the free travel facility.According to the BSRTC, more than 1,000 buses are currently operating across the state, including those under the PPP model. The buses carry more than one lakh passengers every day, with women accounting for nearly half of the riders.The state govt has also been operating dedicated pink buses with a focus on women’s safety and comfortable travel. The service has received a positive response from women passengers.Transport secretary Raj Kumar said on Tuesday the free travel facility was being provided on Raksha Bandhan this year as well, as part of the annual arrangement. He said the initiative was aimed at ensuring that women could travel safely and conveniently to meet their brothers and tie Rakhi without facing any financial burden.He added that the free travel facility would not be limited to women travelling for Raksha Bandhan. “Women commuting to offices, coaching centres, markets and other destinations on Aug 27 and 28 would also be able to travel without tickets on eligible BSRTC buses,” Kumar said.
