Bihar Pink Buses Boost Women's Safety and Travel Confidence

By: Women Entrepreneurs Review Team | Wednesday, 12 August 2026

Bihar’s pink bus initiative has strengthened women’s sense of safety and confidence in public transport, with 93% of surveyed women identifying safety as the main reason for choosing the service. An impact assessment conducted across Patna, Muzaffarpur and Gaya gave the buses an average safety rating of 4.6 out of 5. The study also found that 56% of women felt more confident travelling independently after the service was introduced.

Transport Minister Damodar Rawat said the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to building an inclusive and gender-responsive public transport system. He said the pink buses combine improved safety measures with employment opportunities for women, including roles as drivers and conductors.

Releasing the ‘Impact Assessment Study of Pink Bus in Patna, Muzaffarpur and Gaya’ on Tuesday, Rawat said the government would continue to strengthen the initiative as Bihar modernises its transport network. He highlighted the program as an important step towards making public transport safer and more accessible for women.

Department Secretary Raj Kumar said the initiative demonstrated how targeted measures can improve women’s mobility while creating employment opportunities. He said the assessment showed that more than half of the surveyed women gained confidence in travelling independently. He also called for improvements in service reliability, route planning, workforce support and digital passenger information as the pink bus network expands.

Key Highlights:

• 93% of women said safety was the main reason for choosing pink buses
• Pink buses reduced women’s daily travel costs by up to 35%
• The network is expanding with 50 new electric buses planned

The study found that students account for 47% of pink bus users, while salaried women account for 35%. Education and work together constitute 78% of women’s trips, highlighting the role of safe public transport in improving access to colleges, coaching centres, workplaces and other opportunities.

BSRTC administrator Atul Kumar Verma said the initiative, launched in 2025, had strengthened accessibility and livelihoods while providing women with a safer travel option. He said passengers gave the buses an average safety rating of 4.6 out of 5.

The initiative has also reduced travel costs. Women reported a 28% to 35% reduction in daily expenses after shifting from autos and e-rickshaws to pink buses. About 60% of commuters reported lower costs, while 27% of families said they were more willing to allow women to travel independently.

The report, however, identified gaps. Irregular timings were the biggest barrier for 39% of women, followed by limited route coverage at 21%. Nearly 48% of commuters said they did not know pink bus timings, with many relying on WhatsApp groups or waiting at stops.

The assessment recommended better route planning, fixed timetables, live bus tracking, stronger emergency response, improved training and better facilities for women employees.

Since its launch in the 2025-26 state budget, the pink bus network in the state has grown from an initial fleet of 20 buses in May 2025 — clocking 33,000 ridership in two months — to 80 buses by September 2025. As on date, Patna accounts for 30 pink buses, Gaya 15, Muzaffarpur 20, Darbhanga 11, Purnia 10 and Bhagalpur 14.

Bihar’s pink bus initiative won the SKOCH award 2026 for governance and innovation along the way. With 50 new electric buses set to join the fleet this year, the state has signalled that the pink livery isn’t going away as the network turns electric.