Many people from Bihar and Poorvanchal who live in Delhi can now travel home for Chhath Puja at lower fares.
The Delhi and Bihar governments have joined hands to run interstate bus services for the festival.
The first phase uses 77 buses that start from the Anand Vihar Bus Terminal in Delhi.
The aim is to ease the festive rush and give passengers safe and affordable travel options.
Key points
- 77 buses start from Anand Vihar Bus Terminal in Delhi in the first phase.
- Fares are reduced on Non-AC and AC, seater and sleeper buses.
- Reductions range from Rs 134 to Rs 1,028, depending on route and bus type.
- A proposed agreement would add 18 interstate routes in both directions.
Which towns will these buses reach?
The buses will connect Delhi with five major divisions of Bihar.
Delhi Transport Minister Dr Pankaj Kumar Singh gave the break-up of the fleet.
Muzaffarpur gets 36 buses. Patna gets 13, Purnea gets 12, Gaya gets 10, and Darbhanga gets six.
buses
Graphic: News Anek, from the facts in this report
How much cheaper are the fares now?
Fares have been cut across Non-AC Seater, Non-AC Sleeper, AC Seater and AC Sleeper buses.
The cut depends on the route and the type of bus.
On the Delhi to Patna route, a Non-AC Seater ticket has dropped from Rs 1,615 to Rs 1,221.
An AC Seater ticket has come down from Rs 1,980 to Rs 1,361.
Singh said lakhs of people travel to their native places for Chhath with their families.
He said the government wants public transport to be easier to afford during the season.
What happens next for the bus plan?
The two governments are also working on a proposed Reciprocal Transport Agreement.
A reciprocal agreement means both states allow each other's buses on the same routes.
The plan covers 18 interstate routes, including Bhagalpur, Araria, Kishanganj and Madhubani.
Each state would get a permit quota of 12 buses on every route.
Only BS-VI compliant, CNG and electric buses would be allowed. BS-VI is a vehicle emission standard.
The buses would also need tracking devices and emergency buttons.
The agreement would be valid for 10 years, subject to applicable legal provisions.
Officials will watch demand for the first 77 buses before adding more routes in phases.
Explainer
What happened before
- Lakhs of people from Bihar and Poorvanchal living in Delhi travel to their native places for Chhath Puja.
- The Delhi and Bihar governments are working on a proposed Reciprocal Transport Agreement for interstate bus routes.
Why it matters
The festival rush makes bus travel costly and crowded, so cheaper, safer buses help many families travel home.
What to watch next
- The first 77 buses will be closely monitored to check passenger demand.
- More routes will be added in phases if the arrangement works.
