Jharkhand bus services expand as train tickets sell out
Operators in Ranchi and Jamshedpur have added more inter-state buses due to high train waiting lists ahead of Diwali and Chhath.
Bus operators in Ranchi and Jamshedpur have increased inter-state services to meet rising travel demand ahead of the Diwali and Chhath festivals, according to reports by Urban Acres and The Times of India. The expansion comes as train waiting lists for destinations including Bihar and Uttar Pradesh have reached hundreds.
In Ranchi, the Jharkhand State Bus Owners’ Association stated that more than 100 buses run daily to Patna, while 15 buses each travel to Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, and Raipur. Association representative Mantri said bus operators are seeing brisk business because the lack of train tickets and high airfares have benefited road transport.
Jamshedpur has also seen an increase in operations, with the Sitaramdera inter-state terminus now handling approximately 150 buses daily compared to its usual 100. The Jamshedpur Bus Owners’ Welfare Association reported that around 50 additional buses have been added to routes connecting the city to Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar.
Uday Sharma, president of the Jamshedpur Bus Owners’ Welfare Association, said that while many passengers are booking in advance, the peak festive rush is expected to intensify two days before Diwali and persist after the festival. Services to Bihar have risen to 105 buses from the usual 85.
Despite the surge in demand, operators in Jamshedpur noted that fares have mostly stayed the same. For many workers and students, buses have become the primary alternative for reaching hometowns as train reservations are exhausted.