Pink Bus service in Bihar's Saharsa wins praise; women say travel will now be safer
Saharsa, July 18
The 'Pink Bus' service launched by the Bihar State Road Transport Corporation in Saharsa district is receiving a positive response from women, according to whom this service would not only make their journeys safer but also provide significant convenience for their daily commutes.
Currently, one Pink Bus has been allocated to Saharsa district. It operates on a route connecting Saharsa to Mirzapur via Rahua, Bada, and Nauhatta.
The bus departs from Saharsa at 8:30 a.m. daily and returns from Nauhatta around 4:00 p.m. It has a seating capacity of 24. To ensure the convenience of female passengers, a female conductor has been deployed on the bus.
Women believe that if the number of such Pink Buses is increased in the future and operations are extended to other major routes, thousands of women in the district would benefit directly, and their participation in public transport would also rise.
Speaking to IANS, government teacher Bhavna said, "The Pink Bus service launched by the state government is an excellent initiative for women. Working women often face time constraints, and this service will help them travel safely and reach their destinations on time. We thank the state government for this initiative."
Another teacher, Anita, said, "I thank the government for launching the Pink Bus service. It is a great initiative for women. The service is safe, and since the conductor is also a woman, female passengers feel even more secure during their journey."
Anita mentioned that previously, she had to rely on tempos and regular buses for her daily commute to school, facing numerous difficulties due to overcrowding and general inconvenience.
"With the launch of the Pink Bus service, female passengers now have access to a safer, more comfortable, and dignified travel environment. This will particularly benefit working women, students, and other female commuters," she told IANS.
Pooja Jaiswal, a female bus conductor, explained that the state government launched the Pink Bus service specifically to ensure safe travel for women.
"The service is exclusively for female passengers, allowing them to travel without any hesitation or fear," she added.
— IANS
Reader Comments
As a working woman who commutes daily, this is such a relief! The female conductor makes a huge difference - we can travel without any hesitation. But I hope they fix the timing issue... 8:30 AM start is a bit late for those of us who need to reach offices by 9 AM. Still, grateful for this initiative.
Good initiative but only 24 seats? For a district like Saharsa with thousands of women needing transport, this is a drop in the ocean. The government should learn from Delhi's pink bus model and scale up quickly. Also, why only one bus? Need at least 5-6 on different routes.
This makes me emotional. My mother used to struggle so much with overcrowded tempos and buses. The fact that there's a dedicated service with a female conductor - it's not just about safety, it's about dignity. Kudos to the Bihar government! Hope this expands to every block in the district. 🙏
Great news for women's safety, but let's not forget that lasting change needs more than just pink buses - we need better street lighting, more police patrolling, and awareness campaigns. Still, this is a positive step. My sister studies in Saharsa and she says the bus is always full - demand is clearly there.
I'm a teacher like Bhavna and Anita ji mentioned in the article. This service is a blessing! Earlier I used to leave home at 6:30 AM just to catch a crowded tempo. Now I can leave at 8 AM and reach comfortably. But I wish they'd add an evening return trip too -
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