Festival Special Bus: Festival Special Bus: During Diwali and Chhath Puja, many individuals return home, prompting the anticipated resumption of bus services from Delhi to Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh. The Delhi government is in the process of opening two to three routes initially out of the 18 identified potential interstate routes to Bihar. The operational routes will be decided following a report from the committee reviewing the proposal, which will also determine the final routes and fares.
The introduction of new bus services from Delhi to Bihar before Chhath Puja could provide a new travel option for the thousands of people journeying home during the peak season, offering them much-needed relief. While private buses currently operate between Delhi and Bihar, no government buses are in service on this route. The government of Delhi is contemplating engaging private operators under specified regulations for the proposed services.
The Delhi government has been developing this plan for months, starting with the release of a draft mutual transport agreement between Delhi and Bihar by the Transport Department in August. This draft highlighted 18 routes connecting Delhi to various Bihar regions like Patna, Gaya, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Bhagalpur, and Purnia.
Given that buses traveling to Bihar pass through Uttar Pradesh, some proposed routes will include cities such as Noida, Agra, Kanpur, Lucknow, Prayagraj, Varanasi, and Gorakhpur. Additionally, the government is separately focusing on improving bus connectivity for eastern Uttar Pradesh.
Initially, the plan aimed to launch over 50 buses to Bihar during Chhath Puja, but now it is likely to commence with two or three routes before expanding to more destinations. The proposed mutual agreement between Delhi and Bihar is expected to remain valid for 10 years, specifying that diesel buses must adhere to BS-VI or higher emission standards, with CNG and electric buses also permitted. Safety standards, including vehicle-tracking systems and emergency buttons, must be met by all buses. Currently, details such as routes, fares, and other specifics are under development, awaiting the committee’s report before the government finalizes the bus services to be initiated before Diwali and Chhath.