Patna: As Holi approaches, Bihar’s transport authorities have announced the operation of 200 special buses to facilitate the return of residents from other states. The service, which will include 50 air-conditioned vehicles, aims to ease the burden on travellers from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Karnataka, and Odisha.
The buses will operate under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model from February 23 to March 23, with online ticket bookings opening on February 6. The initiative is expected to benefit passengers travelling to districts including Patna, Gaya, Siwan, Jehanabad, Darbhanga, Ara, Buxar, Muzaffarpur, Kaimur, Bhagalpur, Kishanganj, and Narkatiaganj.
Authorities have stated that bus operations will only be approved after thorough inspections of registration documents, pollution certificates, fitness certificates, permits, and insurance.
Festival travel in Bihar often sees high demand, with limited train availability and challenging journeys for passengers. While special trains have occasionally been arranged during peak periods, this year the focus is on road transport. The 200 buses, operating for 15 days before and 15 days after Holi, are expected to provide much-needed relief to travellers and ensure safer, more convenient travel.
