Bihar launches 155 special buses for Chhath Puja travel
Transport Minister Damodar Rawat flagged off inter-state services connecting Bihar with five neighbouring states until November 20.
The Bihar State Road Transport Corporation (BSRTC) has launched 155 special inter-state buses to facilitate travel for Chhath Puja between November 5 and 20, according to Urban Acres. Transport Minister Damodar Rawat flagged off the services from the BSRTC depot in Phulwarisharif to assist migrant workers and passengers returning home.
The services connect Patna, Muzaffarpur, Gaya, Purnia, Darbhanga, and Bhagalpur divisions to Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Jharkhand. Delhi has the highest allocation with 77 buses, followed by 60 for Haryana, 12 for Jharkhand, and three each for Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
Of the total fleet, 32 buses are operated directly by BSRTC, while 123 run under a public-private partnership (PPP) model. The vehicles include air-conditioned, non-air-conditioned, seater, and sleeper options. Passengers will also be provided with curd and drinking water during their journeys.
Minister Rawat stated that BSRTC has provided subsidies worth Rs 6 lakh on ticket bookings, with 746 tickets booked between November 1 and 5. He noted that the number of special buses would soon increase to 200 to meet rising demand.
Transport Department Secretary Raj Kumar said the initiative aligns with the vision of Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary to help people return home for festivals. He added that similar inter-state bus arrangements will be made during Prakash Parv.