The Delhi government has proposed launching more than 50 air-conditioned luxury buses to seven cities in Bihar before Chhath, offering a direct interstate travel option for passengers travelling from the capital. The proposal has been sent to Lieutenant Governor T S Sandhu for final approval, according to the transport department.
Transport Minister Dr Pankaj Singh said the Delhi and Bihar governments had reached agreement on a memorandum of understanding for the service. Operations will move forward after the Lieutenant Governor gives approval, with the government aiming to start the service before this year’s Chhath festival.
The proposed Delhi-Bihar bus service is planned to connect the capital with Patna, Gaya, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Purnia and Bhagalpur, along with one other destination. The transport department has described the initial plan as a service to seven locations across Bihar. The number of buses could be increased later depending on passenger demand and the response to the service.
The buses are expected to be Volvo-type, air-conditioned vehicles measuring 12 metres in length. They will include space for passengers’ luggage, an important operational requirement on the long-distance routes between Delhi and Bihar. The buses will also comply with BS-VI emission standards, according to the reported plan.
The proposal comes as the Delhi government expands its interstate bus network beyond the National Capital Region. Earlier plans included services to Rishikesh, Haridwar and Dehradun in Uttarakhand; Panipat in Haryana; Ayodhya, Lucknow and Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh; and Amritsar, Chandigarh and Jammu. The Bihar routes are being considered as part of the same expansion programme.
The decision to begin with diesel-powered or other conventional BS-VI buses rather than electric vehicles has been linked to the practical limitations of long-distance charging infrastructure. The transport department has said that operating electric buses on these routes is not currently practical because adequate charging facilities are not available along the longer corridors.
The service is expected to be operated through a bus-hiring arrangement. Under this model, private operators will provide and run the buses, while the government will oversee the service framework. The administration also expects the interstate expansion to improve passenger convenience and increase revenue for the Delhi Transport Corporation.
The proposal’s immediate next step is the Lieutenant Governor’s final approval. The government has not yet announced fares, detailed timetables, boarding points or the exact seventh Bihar destination in the reported plan. These operational details will need to be finalised before bookings and regular services can begin.
