Patna: As thousands prepare to travel home for Holi, the Bihar government has announced special bus services to make the journey easier and cheaper. Acting on the directions of chief minister Nitish Kumar, the state transport department has started running additional buses from several states where a large number of Biharis live and work. The move is aimed at helping people avoid the usual problems of unconfirmed train tickets and high airfares during the festive season.
Transport minister Shravan Kumar said Holi is a festival that brings families together, and the government wants to ensure that no one faces difficulty in reaching home. Special buses are now operating from states including Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Jharkhand. Services have already started on many routes, and remaining routes will begin soon.
Officials said around 800 buses are currently operating under the state transport department. Many of these buses are being used for interstate travel during the Holi rush. In addition, the government is purchasing 149 new AC buses, which will be deployed on longer routes. A total of 118 special AC buses will run until 23 March, along with more than 200 non-AC buses. Out of these, 62 buses have been specially assigned for the Delhi route due to heavy demand.
The government has fixed the fares for these buses to prevent overcharging. Passengers will also receive a subsidy ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 700 depending on the route. For example, the fare from Patna to Delhi has been reduced to Rs 1,254 from the usual Rs 1,873, with a subsidy of Rs 619 provided by the state. Similar concessions are available on other routes.
Online booking for the special buses has started through the state transport corporation’s website. To assist travellers, the government has also released a toll-free helpline number, 1800 3457251, where passengers can get information about tickets and services. The initiative is expected to benefit thousands of families hoping to celebrate Holi together without facing financial pressure or travel uncertainty.
