Tourists from the state capital would shortly have the option to sleep during nocturnal bus journeys to India- Nepal border.

Bihar State Road Transport Corporation (BSRTC) has planned to introduce air-conditioned sleeper buses from the state capital to Jogbani in Araria. The small town on the India-Nepal border is merely 25km away from Biratnagar, a commercial hub in the neighbouring country.

BSRTC sources said the buses are expected to cater to Nepal-bound tourists and businessmen.

Passengers would have to pay Rs 450 to travel by the buses and enjoy its facilities. (See graphics)

Travel agents in Patna have welcomed the proposed service and expect a positive response from people.

Shailesh Kumar, the chief executive of city-based Nalanda Travels, told The Telegraph: “The buses on the Patna-Jogbani route would be able to attract at least 90 per cent business in the section. The passenger flow along the route is quite high.”

He added: “The most important reason for this is the proximity of Jogbani to Biratnagar in Nepal. The town in east Nepal is one of the biggest commercial hubs in the neighbouring country. Biratnagar is a big market for Chinese electronic goods, silk yarn and spices. These are sold legally as well as in the black market.

“A large number of people from Bihar would surely avail of the service. Nepal residents and people from other parts of India would also take advantage of the facility once it is introduced.”

Two AC sleeper buses (one up and another down) would operate between Patna and Jogbani. They would be run by BSTRC in public-private partnership mode with Shatabdi Travels.

“The buses have been delivered to the corporation,” said a senior BSRTC officer.

He added: “Corresponding application for registration and permits have been submitted to the road transport authority in Patna. We expect the registration numbers and permits to be issued within a fortnight, after which the buses would start plying.”

Other operators are also interested to venture into the project.

A senior executive of Gireesh International Pvt. Ltd, which runs 22 inter-state luxury buses from Bihar to Jharkhand, Bengal, Odisha and Chhattisgarh, told The Telegraph: “We might also venture into running sleeper AC buses. Our vehicles would be similar to the AC first-class coaches in trains, in which every couple of berths would have a separate cabin. Such buses would have more height and width as well.”