Buses like these would soon link Bihar with other states. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

Patna, Sept. 12: Inter-state bus services, which would include all kinds of luxury buses like Volvo, air-conditioned (AC) and semi-deluxe buses, would soon link Bihar with Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Bengal.

Bihar State Road Transport Corporation (BSRTC), an undertaking of the state government, has recently started the process of inviting operators to launch bus services between Bihar and UP.

A total of 101 luxury buses — 68 semi-deluxe, 24 AC and nine Volvo — are proposed to run on 26 routes between Bihar and UP. The proposed inter-state bus service would run on a public-private-partnership (PPP) mode.

“An agreement has been signed between the governments of the two states to start the proposed bus services. BSRTC has invited applications from operators for running 101 buses between Bihar and UP. Apart from that, the UP government would also provide buses under this service. We are currently receiving applications from operators. So it would be difficult to comment on the launch of the proposed inter-state bus services as of now,” said a BSRTC official, on condition of anonymity.

According to department sources, the inter-state buses would be of 2010 or 2011 model with a 205-inch wheelbase. However, the operators providing 2011-model buses would be given subsidy of Rs 5 lakh on semi-deluxe buses, Rs 7.5 lakh on AC deluxe buses and Rs 20 lakh on Volvo buses. In return, the operator would share 11 per cent of the total revenue generated on total seating capacity with BSRTC.

Jaya Kumari, who needs to frequently travel between her college at Deoria in Uttar Pradesh (UP) and her home in the state capital, is upbeat about the proposed inter-state bus services.

“I am extremely glad that the authorities have finally decided to start such bus services between the two states. Travelling between the two states has always been an exhausting experience. Thanks to the upcoming luxury buses, I will be able to comfortably travel to and fro at one go,” said Jaya.

Moreover, BSRTC also plans to run a total of 92 luxury AC buses on 17 routes between Bihar and Jharkhand. While 10 of these routes would connect Patna with the other district headquarters in the state, seven routes would take citizens from Patna, Gaya and Bhagalpur to four district headquarters in Jharkhand.

The state tourism department would also launch new AC bus services under PPP mode on inter-state routes, Patna-Siliguri-New Jalpaiguri- Patna and Bodhgaya-Siliguri.