Jharkhand bus operators add services as train tickets run out
Additional inter-state bus services have been rolled out in Ranchi and Jamshedpur to meet travel demand for Diwali and Chhath festivities.
Bus operators across Jharkhand have introduced additional inter-state services to manage high travel demand as train waiting lists for Uttar Pradesh and Bihar reach hundreds, according to The Times of India.
In Ranchi, operators reported a sharp rise in advance bookings for Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh. The Jharkhand State Bus Owners’ Association stated that over 100 buses operate daily between Ranchi and Patna, with 15 buses each to Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, and Raipur.
An operator named Mantri said bus operators are doing brisk business this year because the unavailability of train tickets and high airfares have worked in their favour.
In Jamshedpur, the inter-state terminus at Sitaramdera is now handling 150 buses daily compared to its usual 100. Uday Sharma, president of the Jamshedpur Bus Owners’ Welfare Association, said around 50 additional buses have been added to the fleet.
Sharma noted that while demand is increasing, the festive rush has not yet started, though they expect it to rise sharply two days before Diwali. Buses to Bihar have been increased from approximately 85 to 105 on regular days.
Despite the increased demand, operators in Jamshedpur said fares have largely remained unchanged. Strong demand continues for routes connecting Patna, Chhapra, Siwan, Ara, Muzaffarpur, Bhagalpur, Nawada, and Bihar Sharif.