This story is from June 23, 2019

Soon, four ‘Airport Express’ AC buses to ply on Patna roads

The state transport department has decided to replace the Airport Express buses with air-conditioned (AC) ones to provide a comfortable ride to passengers from Bankipore bus stand to the Jayaprakash Narayan International (JPNI) Airport and vice versa.
Soon, four ‘Airport Express’ AC buses to ply on Patna roads
Image used for representational purpose
PATNA: The state transport department has decided to replace the Airport Express buses with air-conditioned (AC) ones to provide a comfortable ride to passengers from Bankipore bus stand to the Jayaprakash Narayan International (JPNI) Airport and vice versa.
The Bihar State Road Transport Corporation (BSRTC), a wing of the transport department, has initiated bidding process for procuring four AC buses.

At least three non-AC Airport Express buses had been introduced by the department in January. Of these, two run on the R-Block-Bailey Road route and the other on the Patna Junction-New Secretariat route.
According to sources, more than 6.48 lakh people have travelled on these buses so far.
Transport secretary Sanjay Kumar Agarwal told this newspaper that after the bidding process was completed in the first week of July, it would take a couple of months to start the new AC buses. “The fare will definitely go up, but it will be lower than other modes of transport,” he said.
Besides, the department has also initiated bidding process for procuring 10 non-AC buses and 10 CNG-aided (compressed natural gas) ones. This is for the first time that CNG buses will ply on city roads.

Agarwal said, “CNG buses are environment-friendly and help curb pollution. Their maintenance cost is considerably less.”
At least 110 buses are plying on different routes of the city like Danapur (route number 111), Danapur Junction (111 A), Phulwarisharif and AIIMS-Patna (222), Patna University (333), Hajipur railway station (444), Kurji Mor (500) Patna Sahib and Patna City (555), Handi Saheb Gurdwara (666) and Indian Institute of Technology-Patna (888).
All the new buses will be equipped with speed governors, CCTV cameras, global positioning system, fire extinguishers and first-aid facilities.
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About the Author
Faryal Rumi

She is working with the Times of India as a Senior Digital Content Creator on the Patna desk.

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