Public Transport Gaps Exacerbate Harassment Risks for Bihar Women

Transport availability emerged as a critical factor in the safety audit of Bihar’s three major cities. While 57 percent of women travel on foot and another 30 percent use shared intermediate public transport, both modes expose them to harassment when infrastructure is lacking. The survey found that 77 percent of Patna, 60 percent of Gaya and 68 percent of Muzaffarpur neighborhoods are situated more than ten minutes away from any bus stop.

Condition ratings for buses were overwhelmingly negative; nearly 80 percent of respondents described both public and private bus fleets as “poor” or “very poor.” Shared‑ride services fared only slightly better, with 76 percent of users labeling them unsatisfactory. These deficiencies force women into informal, unregulated options that often lack driver screening or safety oversight.

Compounding the transport shortfall are substandard sidewalks. Over half of the footpaths inspected were in “very bad” condition, featuring broken slabs, illegal parking and encroachments that compel pedestrians onto the road. Nighttime travel becomes especially hazardous due to insufficient street lighting and the absence of police patrols.

The Bihar Police have rolled out anti‑eve‑tazing squads, “Abhay Brigade” teams and rapid‑response units near schools, coaching centres and markets. Yet the data underscores that without systematic upgrades to public transport networks, reliable bus services, and well‑maintained pedestrian pathways, harassment will continue to be a daily reality for women commuters.