Patna: In a major move to ease travel woes during the festive season, the Bihar government has announced the deployment of 299 AC and non-AC buses on key interstate routes. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar made the announcement through a post on X on Thursday morning, stating that the new initiative aims to provide relief to lakhs of migrants who return home during festivals such as Chhath, Holi, Diwali, and Durga Puja.
The decision was approved in the state Cabinet meeting held on June 24. As per the plan, the state government will spend Rs 105.82 crore on purchasing 75 air-conditioned and 74 deluxe buses. An additional 150 AC buses will be operated through a public-private partnership (PPP) model.
बिहार के लोग विभिन्न पर्व-त्योहारों खासकर छठ, होली, दीपावली एवं दुर्गा पूजा के अवसर पर काफी संख्या में दिल्ली, उत्तर प्रदेश, पंजाब, हरियाणा और पश्चिम बंगाल से घर आते हैं। पर्व-त्योहारों के अवसर पर बिहार आने में लोगों को काफी कठिनाइयों का सामना करना पड़ता है। बिहार आने वाले लोगों…
— Nitish Kumar (@NitishKumar) June 26, 2025
“People of Bihar come home in large numbers from states like Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and West Bengal during festivals. Our government is consistently working to make their journey more comfortable,” the Chief Minister said.
In addition to the bus services, the state government will also request the Centre to run special trains on the occasion of major festivals. The objective is to ensure smoother and safer travel for the vast migrant population of Bihar, who often struggle to find reliable and affordable transport during peak festive periods.
Officials said the expanded fleet will significantly improve connectivity between Bihar and other states, especially during times when demand for travel spikes sharply.
