Patna: Shortly after taking charge as Bihar’s new Transport Minister, Shravan Kumar announced major reforms aimed at improving employment opportunities and strengthening the state’s public transport system. During a review meeting with departmental officials on Monday, the minister declared that the minimum educational qualification to become a conductor (khallasi) in government buses has been reduced from 10th pass to 7th pass, enabling more youth to access employment in the transport sector.
Minister Kumar was welcomed with floral bouquets by Additional Chief Secretary Mihir Kumar Singh and State Transport Commissioner Abhishek Dwivedi before presiding over the meeting.
New Driving Training Institutes to be Set Up
As part of his agenda to modernize transport services, the minister approved the construction of four new Institutes of Driving Training and Research (IDTR) in Banka/Bhagalpur, Purnia, Bettiah, and Nalanda. Currently, Bihar has only two IDTR centers located in Patna and Aurangabad. These centers aim to provide professional training to drivers and improve road safety standards across the state.
Key Directives for Transport Reforms
During the review meeting, Minister Kumar outlined several directives to strengthen the state’s transport system:
- Construction of driving testing tracks to enhance driver skill assessment.
- Expansion of facilities at bus stations and improvement of cleanliness and security.
- Removal of illegal encroachments on bus stop and depot lands.
- Implementation of driver welfare schemes, including health insurance, life insurance, uniforms, and pensions.
- Accelerating the auction of old and dilapidated buses to fund the purchase of new vehicles and improve fleet efficiency.
He emphasized that these measures would ensure organized transport services and better public convenience.
Focus on Expanding Bus Operations
Minister Kumar also confirmed that the government is preparing to operate buses on all major routes, ensuring affordable and accessible transportation for passengers throughout the state. The review meeting was attended by Additional Secretary Praveen Kumar, Administrator of Bihar State Road Transport Corporation (BSRTC) Atul Kumar Verma, Joint Secretary Krityanand Ranjan, and other senior officials.
This initiative reflects the Bihar government’s focus on youth employment, modernization of transport infrastructure, and enhancement of public transport facilities across the state.
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