Patna: The Bihar State Road Transport Corporation has introduced 118 special air-conditioned buses to connect major cities in Bihar with Delhi, Haryana, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, as authorities seek to manage the seasonal surge in travel during Holi and Eid. The services began on February 23 and will operate until March 23, offering relief to passengers facing long waiting lists on trains.
Officials said the scheme is designed to improve accessibility and affordability for migrant workers and families travelling home for the festive period. The state government has subsidised ticket prices across several routes, reducing fares significantly. On the Muzaffarpur–Ranchi corridor, travellers will receive a subsidy of Rs 269 on AC seater fares, while Patna–Delhi tickets have been capped at Rs 1,254 for AC seater and Rs 1,893 for AC sleeper services. Competitive pricing has also been extended to routes serving Darbhanga, Gaya and Siwan.
Transport authorities have prioritised high-demand corridors linking Bihar with the national capital region and Haryana. A total of 67 buses have been deployed on the Bihar–Delhi route and 51 buses on services to Haryana. Delhi-bound buses will depart from Gandhi Maidan in Patna at 11.30am and from Gaya at 7.30pm. Direct services to Gurugram and Ambala are operating from Purnea, Patna, Madhubani and Araria, while routes connecting Jharkhand and West Bengal have also commenced this week.
The newly deployed fleet includes both AC seater and sleeper categories equipped with modern amenities aimed at improving passenger comfort and safety during long-distance travel. Officials described the initiative as part of a broader effort to ensure no traveller is prevented from returning home due to capacity constraints during peak festival periods.
Ticket booking has been streamlined through digital and offline options. Passengers can reserve seats via the corporation’s website or purchase tickets directly at bus terminals. Multiple payment modes including UPI, debit and credit cards, and net banking have been enabled to encourage cashless transactions and simplify the booking process.
