Patna: Bus travel across Bihar is set to become more expensive from June 1 after the state government approved a hike of 10% to 15% in fares for all categories of buses operating in the state.
The Transport Department issued a notification on Friday announcing the revised fare structure, which will apply to ordinary, deluxe, air-conditioned (AC) and premium bus services.
The decision comes after bus fares remained unchanged for the past five years. Officials said the revision was carried out under the existing policy of reviewing fares every five years and in response to rising operational costs, particularly the increase in diesel prices.
According to the department, a proposal seeking a fare increase of up to 15% was considered after inviting objections and suggestions from the public. Following the review process, the revised fare rates were approved.
New Fare Structure for Ordinary Buses
Under the revised rates, passengers travelling in ordinary buses will pay:
- Rs 1.73 per kilometre for journeys up to 50 km (up from Rs 1.50)
- Rs 1.71 per kilometre for journeys up to 100 km
- Rs 1.68 per kilometre for journeys up to 200 km
- Rs 1.65 per kilometre for journeys exceeding 300 km
Deluxe Bus Fares Revised
For deluxe bus services, the new fares have been fixed at:
- Rs 1.96 per kilometre for journeys up to 50 km
- Rs 1.94 per kilometre for journeys up to 100 km
- Rs 1.90 per kilometre for journeys up to 200 km
- Rs 1.87 per kilometre for journeys above 300 km
AC and Premium Services Also Costlier
Passengers travelling in AC buses will also see higher fares:
- Rs 2.30 per kilometre for journeys up to 50 km
- Rs 2.28 per kilometre for journeys up to 100 km
- Rs 2.24 per kilometre for journeys up to 200 km
- Rs 2.20 per kilometre for journeys exceeding 300 km
The Transport Department has also approved a fare increase for premium services, including Volvo buses.
Private Operators Expected to Follow
The revised fare structure will apply not only to state-run services but also to private bus operators operating on various routes across Bihar.
Officials noted that a proposal for a fare revision had been under consideration for some time, making an increase widely anticipated within the transport sector.
In several areas, private operators had already begun charging higher fares this month in anticipation of the official revision, prompting complaints from passengers.
The latest increase is expected to impact thousands of daily commuters and long-distance travellers across Bihar, adding to concerns over rising transportation costs amid broader inflationary pressures.
