Patna: In a major move to enhance public transportation in the state, Bihar State Road Transport Corporation (BSRTC) is set to introduce 149 new deluxe buses ahead of Holi this year. The fleet includes 75 air-conditioned (AC) deluxe buses and 74 non-AC deluxe buses, aimed at providing comfortable and efficient travel options for both interstate and intrastate commuters.
The AC buses will primarily operate on nine key interstate routes, connecting Bihar with Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and West Bengal. This expansion is expected to benefit thousands of passengers daily, particularly migrant workers returning home for the festival season. Plans are also underway to operate AC buses within the state.
Unprofitable Routes to Be Phased Out
Shravan Kumar, Minister of Transport and Rural Development, directed the department to identify unprofitable routes and suspend bus services on them. The new 149 buses will be integrated with existing services, with a comprehensive route planning process to ensure optimal utilization.
Route Permits and Clearances
Currently, the ten-year-old route permits for Uttar Pradesh are in the renewal process, while new routes for Delhi are in the final stages of approval. Clearance for Haryana routes will follow soon. Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) have already been signed with Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal for interstate operations. However, no response has been received yet from Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, and Telangana regarding bus services.
The minister emphasized that all route notifications should be completed before the buses arrive, ensuring seamless operations. He also plans to meet the transport ministers of other states in Delhi on January 7-8 to resolve pending issues regarding interstate routes.
Annual Passenger Movement and Fleet Details
BSRTC currently operates a fleet of 884 buses, including 266 CNG and 25 electric buses. During FY 2024-25, approximately 2.6 crore passengers traveled using BSRTC buses, while an additional 92 lakh passengers traveled on PPP-operated buses. In FY 2025-26, 220 interstate buses completed 6,241 trips across Delhi, Haryana, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal, enabling around 2.5 lakh migrant Biharis to return home for festivals.
Minister Shravan Kumar stated that the department aims to further improve transport services this year, with plans to expand operations to additional states. Officials have been instructed to complete all MoUs, route permits, and other formalities ahead of Holi to ensure timely deployment of the new buses.
About BSRTC:
Bihar State Road Transport Corporation is the primary public transport provider in Bihar, operating a large fleet of conventional, CNG, electric, and deluxe buses. BSRTC plays a crucial role in connecting Bihar with neighboring states, providing affordable and reliable transport to millions of passengers annually.
