Patna: Commuters travelling from Patna and other districts of Bihar to six states and more than 60 cities will soon have improved road transport options, as the state government plans a major expansion of inter-state bus services. Over the next six months, buses will begin operating on 235 routes, significantly reducing reliance on railways for long-distance travel.
According to the Transport Department, the upcoming network will include around 200 air-conditioned buses, 400 non-AC buses and 50 luxury buses. The expansion aims to connect not only major cities but also blocks with a population of over 50,000, ensuring wider access to public transport across the state.
The department will invite applications from private bus operators after January to operate nearly 650 additional buses under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. At present, the Bihar State Road Transport Corporation is operating around 1,200 buses under the PPP framework. In addition, nearly 30,000 private buses are already operating across the state.
Maximum Routes Planned for Jharkhand
Among the proposed inter-state routes, Jharkhand will have the highest number of services, with 90 bus routes planned. Other key destinations include West Bengal with 45 routes, Uttar Pradesh with 34 routes, Chhattisgarh with 28 routes and Odisha with 16 routes. Around 10 routes will connect Bihar with Delhi, while 12 services are planned for Siliguri.
Transport Minister Shravan Kumar said buses will operate from Patna as well as other districts of Bihar to major cities in neighbouring states. He added that 150 new buses are expected to be inducted into the fleet within the next two months.
The state government is also preparing a proposal to introduce luxury bus services between Bihar and Nepal, aimed at boosting cross-border connectivity and passenger convenience.
The expanded bus network is expected to improve mobility, reduce pressure on railway services and provide affordable and reliable travel options for passengers across Bihar and neighbouring states.
