Patna : The Bihar State Road Transport Corporation (BSRTC) will operate 210 festival special buses from five states between November 5 and November 20 to help passengers travelling to Bihar for Diwali and Chhath. The state government will provide a subsidy of around 30% on bus fares, with savings of up to Rs 865 on eligible journeys.
Online ticket bookings for the special services will begin on November 1 through the corporation’s official website.
The initiative aims to ease travel difficulties during the festive season, when large numbers of people living in Delhi and other cities return to Bihar to celebrate with their families. Heavy demand often makes confirmed train tickets difficult to secure and increases pressure on available transport services.
BSRTC To Operate 210 Special Buses From Five States
According to the transport corporation, the special buses will operate from Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, West Bengal, Haryana and Jharkhand.
The state-wise allocation is as follows:
- Uttar Pradesh: 60 buses
- Delhi: 50 buses
- West Bengal: 40 buses
- Haryana: 30 buses
- Jharkhand: 30 buses
The 210 buses are expected to provide additional transport capacity for passengers travelling to Bihar during the festive period.
The services will run for 16 days, covering the peak travel period around Diwali and Chhath.
Online Ticket Booking To Start On November 1
Passengers will be able to book tickets online from November 1 through the official BSRTC website.
The government subsidy will reduce fares by around 30%, with the maximum reported saving reaching Rs 865, depending on the journey and bus category.
The discounted fares are intended to make road travel more affordable for passengers who may otherwise face high ticket prices or limited availability on regular transport services.
24-Hour Connecting Bus Services Planned In Patna
To help passengers reach their final destinations after arriving in the state capital, connecting city bus services will be available around the clock from Patna Junction, Danapur railway station, Patliputra railway station and Bairiya bus stand.
These services will connect arriving passengers with routes towards villages and smaller towns, making onward travel more convenient after long-distance journeys.
The connecting services are intended to improve coordination between inter-state transport and local travel during the festive rush.
GPS Tracking And Safety Checks For Special Buses
BSRTC has directed that the special buses be equipped with vehicle location tracking devices (VLTD/GPS), panic buttons and speed governors. Mandatory fitness checks will also be conducted to ensure that the vehicles meet safety requirements.
Drivers have been instructed to stop only at designated bus stands or permitted roadside locations and comply with traffic regulations.
Action, including fines, may be taken against drivers who stop buses in the middle of the road or violate the prescribed rules.
These measures are intended to improve monitoring, discourage unsafe driving and provide passengers with a safer journey during the busy festive period.
Patna-Delhi Bus Fares After Subsidy
The reported fares for different bus categories on the Patna-Delhi route, after the subsidy, are:
- Non-AC bus: Rs 1,182
- Non-AC sleeper: Rs 1,483
- AC seater: Rs 1,318
- AC sleeper: Rs 1,935
Fares vary according to the bus category and seating arrangement. Passengers should check the applicable fare and seat availability when booking online.
With 210 additional buses, subsidised fares and connecting transport in Patna, the initiative is expected to provide another travel option for people returning to Bihar for Diwali and Chhath. The actual benefit will depend on route availability, demand and seat availability on individual services.
