Advancement in Transport Sector of Bihar Adoption of IT automation, Green Mobility strategy and more

Sanjay Kumar Agarwal, IAS, Secretary, Transport Department, Government of Bihar gives an overview of the ecofriendly initiatives put in place by the Department over the years to provide safe, efficient and cost-effective transport facility across the State.

Digital Governance & Eco-Friendly Transport System

The Department has undertaken several digital initiatives over the last couple of years to provide an integrated approach to the transport system and to improve its performance such as, registration of vehicles & issuing driving licenses through online mode, computer-based testing of learning licenses, Permit Automation, 24/7 monitoring of vehicles through VLTD system, generation of e-Challan via handheld devices, smart travelling application for city bus services through mobile application, Driving Testing Track Automation, LMV Simulator based training facilities in Motor Driving Training schools across the State, Online inter-state Check posts, setting up of Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facilities (RVSF), Automated Testing Station (ATS) for vehicle fitness and many more. The impact of digitalization on service delivery ecosystem as well as revenue augmentation for the Department in last 5 years can be envisaged as follows:

Enhancement in electric mobility – Combating Air Pollution through Green Energy Mission

The Department has set goals of reduction in air pollution and GHG and advancement in Bihar’s low-carbon development pathways by 2040. Through “Bihar Clean Fuel Scheme”, it provided incentives for replacement of Diesel/ Petrol based Auto Rickshaws with CNG based ones, 1,500+ physical pollution testing centers and mobile ones across the State. EVs have been incorporated under public transport system and incentivization in electric mobility through EV policy has given impetus to the procurement of electric vehicles. Multiple stakeholders have been consulted through various platforms and a conclave on electric mobility has been organised. The vision is EV30@30: i.e. 30% of all new vehicles registered in Bihar should be EVs.

Awareness Drive for Road Safety

The 4Es – Enforcement, Education, Emergency & Engineering, gives impetus to road safety across the State. Strict law enforcement through daily & special drives by enforcement officers, real-time road accident data monitoring through iRAD application, regular road safety audits, mapping of ambulances to improve medical care facilities, awareness drives through print & electronic media and creation of Bihar Road Safety Fund in 2018 are some of the initiatives. Special focus has been given to Golden Hour Responses through 10 Level-II and 36 Level-III Trauma centres, trained paramedics with lifesaving equipment in the ambulance and availability of Quick Medical Response Team.

Implementation of benevolent schemes

Schemes like Mukhya Mantri Gram Parivahan Yojna (MMGPY), Mukhya Mantri Ambulance Yojna, Clean Fuel, Amnesty, Motor Driving Training School Incentive and Pollution Centre are put in place to provide quality transport infrastructure and generating employment in this sector.

Schemes like Mukhya Mantri Gram Parivahan Yojna (MMGPY), Mukhya Mantri Prakhand Parivahan Yojna (MMPPY), and Mukhya Mantri Ambulance Yojna facilitate passenger transportation system in rural areas and create employment opportunities for the educated youth of the weaker sections of the society. Under MMGPY scheme, the Government has already provided purchase incentives for more than 45,000 vehicles and is in the process of streamlining subsidy for an additional 4,000 buses across the state. Another initiative is implementing PM-e-Bus Sewa scheme under which the
State Cabinet has already approved acquisition of 400 electric buses.