Patna: With Durga Puja, Diwali and Chhath approaching, Bihar is preparing to make interstate travel easier for passengers returning home for the festive season. The Bihar State Road Transport Corporation (BSRTC) will operate more than 100 special festive buses from September 25.
The services will connect Bihar with five states — Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and West Bengal. The special operations are aimed at providing passengers, particularly those travelling home during the festive rush, with more convenient and affordable transport options.
The buses will continue operating during the festive period from Durga Puja through Diwali and Chhath. BSRTC has also started ticket booking through its official website.
Special Buses to Connect Five States
The festive services will cover several important interstate routes connecting Bihar with major cities outside the state. The buses will operate from key locations including Patna, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Purnia, Gaya and Bhagalpur.
BSRTC plans to deploy different categories of buses for the special services, including Deluxe AC Non-Seater, AC Seater and AC Sleeper buses. Each bus will have seating capacity for more than 40 passengers, according to the corporation’s announcement.
The additional services are particularly significant during the period when a large number of people living and working outside Bihar travel back to the state for family and religious celebrations.
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Major Routes and Fares Announced
Along with the festive bus plan, the corporation has released fares for several important routes. The fare varies according to the route and type of bus.
For passengers travelling from Patna to Kolkata, the announced fare is ₹939 for a non-AC seater, ₹874 for an AC seater and ₹1,143 for an AC sleeper.
The Patna-Ghaziabad route will cost ₹1,544 for a non-AC seater, ₹1,896 for an AC seater and ₹2,823 for an AC sleeper.
For the shorter Patna-Varanasi route, the fares have been fixed at ₹435 for a non-AC seater, ₹531 for an AC seater and ₹601 for an AC sleeper.
Other important fares announced by BSRTC include:
- Gaya to Kolkata: ₹776 for non-AC seater; ₹945 for AC seater and AC sleeper
- Patna to Panipat: ₹1,483 for non-AC seater; ₹1,811 for AC seater; ₹2,727 for AC sleeper
- Patna to Ranchi: ₹567 for non-AC seater; ₹690 for AC seater and AC sleeper
- Kishanganj to Delhi: ₹2,011 for non-AC seater; ₹2,463 for AC seater; ₹3,375 for AC sleeper
- Patna to Siliguri: ₹752 for non-AC seater; ₹915 for AC seater and AC sleeper
- Gaya to Ambala: ₹1,633 for non-AC seater; ₹1,991 for AC seater; ₹2,947 for AC sleeper
- Madhubani to Gurugram: ₹1,473 for non-AC seater; ₹1,800 for AC seater; ₹2,568 for AC sleeper
Passengers should check the booking portal for the latest fare, route and seat availability before travelling, as schedules and availability can change.
Services Timed for the Festive Rush
The special bus programme has been planned around the major festive travel period. Durga Puja, Diwali and Chhath traditionally see increased movement of passengers between Bihar and other parts of the country.
For people travelling from Delhi-NCR, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and West Bengal, additional bus services can provide another option when regular transport services face high demand.
The BSRTC has previously expanded interstate festive services to address travel demand during major festivals, including routes linking Bihar with Delhi and other states.
Online Ticket Booking Available
Passengers can book tickets through the official BSRTC website. The corporation has also issued a toll-free helpline for passengers seeking information or assistance.
- BSRTC website: bsrtc.bihar.gov.in
- Toll-free helpline: 1800-345-7251
Travellers are advised to check their boarding point, route, bus category and departure details while booking.
A Wider Travel Option for Bihar’s Migrant Population
The festive bus initiative is aimed at easing interstate travel at a time when demand for transportation rises sharply. By adding more services from multiple Bihar cities, the corporation is expanding travel options beyond a limited number of major departure points.
The move also gives passengers greater choice in terms of bus categories, with AC seater and sleeper options available on several routes.
For Bihar, where a large number of residents travel to other states for work, education and business, better interstate connectivity can be particularly useful during the annual festive rush. The special services from September 25 are therefore expected to provide an additional public transport option as families prepare to return home for Durga Puja, Diwali and Chhath.
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