The Delhi Transport Department is moving forward with plans to introduce more than 50 air-conditioned luxury buses for direct inter-state travel between Delhi and Bihar. This initiative is specifically timed to commence before the upcoming Chhath festival, a period known for significant travel demand from Delhi and the National Capital Region to Bihar.
Easing Chhath Festival Travel Rush
During the Chhath festival, millions travel back to their hometowns, often leading to severe constraints in train and bus availability. The proposed luxury bus service is expected to provide much-needed relief, offering a comfortable and direct alternative for migrant workers and families.
Delhi Transport Minister Pankaj Singh confirmed the government's target to launch these buses ahead of the festival. "We have a target to launch these buses before the Chhath festival this year; these will be AC luxury buses, and initially we plan to roll out over 50 buses to seven locations in Bihar," Singh stated, adding that the proposal has been sent to Lieutenant Governor TS Sandhu for final approval.
Operational Details and Routes
The service is part of the next phase of Delhi’s inter-state bus rollout. Both the Delhi and Bihar governments have already approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the project, clearing the path for reciprocal bus operations once the Lieutenant Governor grants final approval. The buses are anticipated to operate under a wet-lease arrangement, where private operators manage the vehicles on behalf of the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC), allowing for rapid expansion of fleet capacity.
Initial plans indicate that the fleet will serve seven key destinations across Bihar. While the final list is pending approval, cities under consideration for these routes include:
- Patna
- Gaya
- Muzaffarpur
- Darbhanga
- Buxar
- Purnea
- Kishanganj
- Madhubani
- Champaran
- Bihar Sharif
- Bhagalpur
Officials have indicated that once the LG's approval is secured, preparations for ticketing, route scheduling, and bus deployment can proceed swiftly, with the government's primary goal being operational readiness before the Chhath festival begins.