Free passes for rural bus service being made on the spot

Raipur, November 2, 2026/ On the occasion of the 26th foundation day of Chhattisgarh state, the Transport Department's exhibition at the Rajyotsav fair ground in Nava Raipur has become the center of attraction for the people. In the exhibition based on the theme of "Road Safety - Life Saving" and "Safe Travel, Prosperous Chhattisgarh", along with providing information about the departmental schemes, free passes of Chief Minister Rural Bus Service are also being made on the spot for eligible beneficiaries. The main entrance of the exhibition has been decorated with a replica of a bus, traffic signals and a large LED screen. Videos related to road safety are being displayed on the screen.

Special arrangements have been made at the exhibition to issue free rural bus service passes. Blind and intellectually disabled people, people with disabilities who are physically challenged, senior citizens over 80 years of age, and those affected by HIV/AIDS are eligible for 100 percent fare concession for travel within Chhattisgarh. This concession is also provided to one of their attendants. According to department officials, the Transport Department has been entered in the Golden Book of World Records for distributing the highest number of free bus passes to senior citizens in a single day. Passes are being issued instantly after verifying documents at the exhibition site, saving beneficiaries the hassle of running around offices.

To raise awareness about road safety, a message is being given in Chhattisgarhi: "Come and take care of your safety, why don't you know where you are?" Appeals are being made to wear helmets, fasten seat belts, avoid drunk driving, avoid talking on the mobile phone while driving, and drive slowly. These messages are being conveyed in a simple way through pictures and models.

Information about the Prime Minister's Relief Scheme is also being provided at the exhibition. Under the scheme, anyone injured in a road accident will be provided cashless treatment up to ₹1.50 lakh for a maximum of seven days in any government or private hospital. Transporting the injured to the hospital within the first hour after the accident, or the "golden hour," can reduce the risk of death. People are being urged to call the 108 or 112 helplines in case of an emergency.

To improve the driving training and testing system, Driving Training Centers (DTCs) and Regional Driving Training Centers (RDTCs) are being established in the state. A total of 16 centers have been approved. These include two RDTCs in Jagdalpur and Bilaspur, and two DTCs each in Dantewada, Gariaband, Surajpur, Korba, Surguja, Rajnandgaon, Dhamtari, Janjgir-Champa, and one DTC in Kabirdham, Durg, Balodabazar, Balod, and Mahasamund. A CCTV and sensor-based computerized e-track system has been introduced to make the driving test transparent.

The objective of the Chief Minister's Rural Bus Scheme 2025 is to provide bus services to remote areas. In the first phase, the target is to run 100 buses in Bastar and Surguja divisions. Under the scheme, the government is providing financial assistance of Rs 26 per kilometer in the first year, Rs 24 in the second year, and Rs 22 in the third year. Meanwhile, under the registered vehicle scrapping facility, 6,278 vehicles have been scrapped so far, including 3,336 government vehicles. Two scrapping centers have been started in Raipur and one in Durg.

Mr. Aman Shrivas of Tulsi village, who visited the exhibition, said that the Transport Department's exhibition is useful. Along with information on schemes, free bus passes are also being issued instantly. This facility is a great relief for the elderly and the disabled. He added that the initiative to explain the five rules of road safety in Chhattisgarhi is commendable.