Patna: Travelling from Bihar to Delhi and Uttar Pradesh could soon become easier, with 14 new interstate bus routes planned between Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
The new services will be operated by the Bihar State Road Transport Corporation (BSRTC), expanding direct government bus connectivity for passengers travelling between Bihar and major destinations in Uttar Pradesh and the National Capital Region.
The decision was taken during a high-level meeting between Bihar Transport Minister Damodar Rawat and Uttar Pradesh Transport Minister Dayashankar Singh at Hotel Clarks Avadh in Lucknow on Monday.
The two states also agreed to extend the agreement for 25 existing interstate routes that have been operating for the past 10 years.
Direct Bus Connectivity To Delhi, Noida And UP
The proposed expansion is expected to improve direct road connectivity between Bihar and cities such as Delhi, Noida, Lucknow and Kanpur.
For passengers from smaller towns and cities in Bihar, the additional government-operated services could provide more direct public transport options for travelling to major urban centres.
The Bihar transport minister said stronger connectivity between the two states would help passengers travelling between Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi by providing direct, safe and affordable government bus services.
Tourism Routes Also In Focus
The proposed interstate bus network is not limited to passenger connectivity. Tourism was also discussed during the meeting.
Officials considered connecting important destinations under the Ramayana Circuit and Buddhist Circuit through the expanded transport network.
Direct bus services between destinations such as Ayodhya, Varanasi and Prayagraj and Bihar’s Sitamarhi, Gaya, Bodh Gaya and Vaishali could make travel between major religious and cultural sites easier.
The improved connectivity could also support tourist movement between Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, particularly during the upcoming festival season.
Agreement On 25 Existing Routes To Continue
Alongside the 14 proposed routes, the two states have agreed to continue the arrangement for 25 existing interstate bus routes.
These routes have been operating under an agreement between Bihar and Uttar Pradesh for the past decade. Extending the arrangement will allow the existing interstate network to continue while the new routes are introduced.
MoU To Be Signed Soon
According to BSRTC, an agreement between the two states will be formalised through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) after the new routes are finalised.
The meeting was attended by BSRTC administrator Atul Kumar Verma, joint secretary Subhash Narayan and senior officials from the transport departments of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
The proposed 14-route expansion is expected to strengthen Bihar’s road transport links with Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, while also improving connectivity to important religious, cultural and tourism destinations.
