The landscape of Bihar is changing as women gain more independence, particularly in areas historically dominated by men. Under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s initiative, there’s been a notable rise in the number of women obtaining driving licenses for light motor vehicles. Since 2018, over 129,000 women in the state have secured licenses for two and four-wheeled vehicles.
Patna district leads the way with 29,417 women obtaining driving licenses in the last eight years, according to Transport Department data. Muzaffarpur follows, with 18,560 women also obtaining their licenses.
Patna division leads in the number of licenses issued, with over 40,000 issued to women. Tirhut division follows closely with approximately 33,000 license holders. Darbhanga, Magadh, and Munger divisions also show strong numbers, ranking third, fourth, and fifth respectively. Kosi division has the lowest numbers with approximately 4,000 women holding driving licenses.
Transport Secretary Sandeep Kumar R. Pudakalkatti commented on this shift, noting that women, once reliant on others for transportation, are now gaining independence by obtaining licenses and confidently driving themselves.