Latest news with #SheelaKumari
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Time of India
CM to launch the pink bus services in six cities today
Patna: CM Nitish Kumar will flag off the first batch of 20 pink buses of (BSRTC), meant for women, at a function to be held on 1 Anne Marg in Patna on Friday. With the aim of improving safety and accessibility for women commuters, eight CNG (compressed natural gas)-powered pink buses will roll out in Patna, four in Muzaffarpur, and two each in Gaya, Darbhanga, Bhagalpur and Purnia, said the BSRTC officials. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In Patna, the new buses will initially ply on four routes — from Gandhi Maidan to AIIMS-Patna in Phulwarisharif, Danapur and Kurji (via Boring Road), and NIT-More to Kankarbagh autorickshaw stand. According to the officials, the minimum fare will be Rs 6 and maximum Rs 35 for one-way journey. Various payment options like prepaid cards, and monthly and student passes are available. Initially, the driver in the buses will be men, while the conductor will be women. "We will train women drivers as well," an official said. The 22-seater buses will be equipped with modern safety features, including CCTV cameras, GPS tracking systems, panic buttons, speed governor, fire extinguisher and first-aid kit, besides mobile charging port near all seats. The real-time location of the buses can be seen on 'Chalo', a mobile application. Transport minister Sheela Kumari said that the pink bus service will serve as a significant step towards social empowerment. "It will boost women's confidence. In the future, the pink bus service will be expanded to other cities," she said. Eighty more pink buses are already in the pipeline. Transport secretary Sandeep Kumar R Pudakalkatti said that the pink bus service is specifically for working women and students to provide them with a sense of safety during travel. Women can spot the pink buses from a distance due to their distinctive colour.
Time of India
10-05-2025
- Time of India
Basic facilities must at all fuel stations: Min
Patna: All fuel station owners in the state must ensure proper lighting, cleanliness and fully functional toilet facilities, transport minister Sheela Kumari said on Saturday. Failure to comply will lead to the suspension of licences, the minister warned."Travellers use toilets at fuel stations. Safe and convenient facilities for women, men, children and the elderly are essential. There should be separate Indian and Western-style toilets for both men and women. Western toilets, in particular, offer much-needed comfort to the sick and elderly," she said.A previous directive from the state transport department mandated that all fuel stations maintain hygiene and assign staff for regular cleaning of toilets and to Rule 2(E) of the Bihar Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel Oil Dealer Licensing Order (1966), it is compulsory for fuel stations to provide essential amenities for travellers. These include clean toilets, urinals, safe drinking water, emergency services, proper maintenance of the station and other customer-oriented those fuel stations that meet these requirements will have their licences renewed. Those failing to do so risk is important to note that nationwide, essential services at fuel stations, such as first-aid kits, emergency call access, separate toilets for men and women, drinking water, air for tyres and fuel quality checks, are free for travellers.
Time of India
09-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Patna leads in spending for ‘lucky' vehicle numbers
Patna: People in Bihar have developed a penchant for getting fancy registration numbers and they are ready to pay extra money for to data received from the state transport department, a total of 14,721 vehicle owners paid Rs 23.91 crore in the last financial year (2024-25), to get the fancy number of their choice, with Patna remaining at the top of this exercise while Sheohar showing least interest. As per the data, a total of 5,709 people from Patna district acquired the fancy numbers in the last financial year after paying over Rs 9.47 crore, while Sheohar spent only Rs 2.50 lakh, with just 10 people expressing interest in minister Sheela Kumari said the department is attention to the people's choice for fancy registration numbers. "This facility was not available earlier, but now the people can get the desired numbers for their vehicles after paying the specified fees," she said on Friday. She said some people choose fancy numbers based on their lucky numbers. "The very inclination for such fancy numbers has not only brought joy to vehicle owners but also increased the govt revenue," she report further said Muzaffarpur ranks second, while Gaya comes third in the matter of obtaining fancy number plates. In Muzaffarpur, 1,230 vehicle owners spent approximately Rs 1.88 crore, while in Gaya, 921 people spent Rs1.35 crore to have such numbers. Purnia, with 627 vehicle owners spending Rs 1.15 crore for such attractive number plates, falls in the fourth position, as per the state transport districts like Sheohar and Arwal have not shown much interest in these numbers, with only 10 and 12 people respectively opting for fancy numbers. What remained the most sought-after numbers among the vehicle owners were 0001, 0003, 0005, 0007, and 0009, reports said.A transport department official said the vehicle owners must pay a special fee for selected numbers, categorised into five groups (A, B, C, D, and E), each with a specific fee. Group A's reserved numbers like 0001, 0003, 0005, 0007, and 0009 cost Rs 1 lakh for "non-transport vehicles" and Rs 35,000 for "transport vehicles". An e-auction system is also available for this purpose, the official official added that if more than one person desires a single-digit number plate, a bidding process is conducted, and the highest bidder receives the desired number. Alternatively, fancy numbers in the current series are allocated on a 'first-come, first-served' basis upon payment of the designated fee online, he said.
