Tourists visiting Patna, Bodhgaya and Rajgir could soon take pleasure rides on double-decker buses.

Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation (BSTDC) has also decided to introduce caravan-type air-conditioned luxury buses in the state capital to make tourists’ experience even more wholesome.

BSTDC has shortlisted a few companies for these purposes over the past few days. A decision on the selection of the company would be taken after the companies that have been shortlisted make a presentation.

“One open-roof double-decker bus each would be running in Patna, Bodhgaya and Rajgir as part of city tour services. The firm, which would be selected on the basis of the presentations, will be awarded the contract by the end of this month for manufacturing the double-decker buses. However, at this stage, we will not be able to comment on when these buses would start operating because a decision in this regard would be taken in consent from the selected firm,” a senior BSTDC official said.

BSTDC, an undertaking of the state tourism department, invited expression of interest in November 2011, for bus body builder agencies to provide double-decker buses. “The upper floor of the bus would have 20 seats and 15 seats would be there at the ground floor,” the official said.

BSTDC has also shortlisted a few companies for an air-conditioned caravan-type bus. “The corporation has received a few applications, which are willing to manufacture and deliver caravan-type buses. At present, we just want to procure one such bus, which would be stationed in Patna and it could be hired for going to other tourist spots across the state,” the official said, adding that the decision on the firm would depend on the presentations. Sources said, the caravan-type bus would have two beds, one sitting area having the capacity of six persons, a microwave, one folding canopy tent and a toilet. The bus would also have several folding chairs.

BSTDC is also in the process of running several air-conditioned special luxury inter-state tourist buses from Patna. (See graphics). At present, BSTDC is running three such luxury buses — one each on Patna-Ranchi-Patna, Patna-Purnea-Patna and Patna-Kesariya-Kushinagar-Patna routes.