India’s Intercity Bus Travel Sees Strong 25% Jump This Year

By Jony Shekhawat | Published Date : November 19, 2025

India’s intercity bus travel rises 25% as more people choose long routes and AC buses.

India’s intercity bus sector is growing fast this year. India’s intercity buses carried 140 million passengers. This is between April and September 2025 and 25% more than the same months last year. It indicates that people are again focusing on buses for long travel.

The total ticket value during these six months reached ₹132 billion, a big number for the travel industry. More than 6,000 private bus operators handled this whole business, proving that Tata intercity buses remain one of the strongest transport networks in the country, just like the way trucks and electric truck fleets keep goods moving every day.

Sleeper & AC Buses Take Majority Share

Table Of Contents

1. Sleeper & AC Buses Take Majority Share

2. Network Expands Across India

3. Maharashtra Leads India’s Bus Bookings

4. Young Travellers Drive Growth

5. Industry Leaders Share Insights

6. About RedBus

RedBus’s latest BusTrack Report says sleeper and hybrid buses made up 85% of all bus journeys during the first six months of FY 2025–26. Also, AC buses were preferred by most travellers, taking 71% of total seats sold.

This shows that people now want more comfort even on budget trips. Just like when people choose a truck or mini truck based on comfort and mileage, travellers are choosing buses with better features.

Network Expands Across India

The report shows that the intercity bus network is now very large and connected. More than 670,000 unique routes linked over 11,000 towns in India during the period. Around 65% of these routes were long-distance, stretching beyond 250 km. Andhra Pradesh and Telangana led with 84% occupancy, while Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh were lower at 63%.

Maharashtra Leads India’s Bus Bookings

Maharashtra and Goa recorded the highest seat bookings at 16%. Maharashtra also had a higher average seat price of ₹1,066 and showed a strong 79% occupancy rate. Around 67% of the state’s travel remained within its own borders, proving the strength of its internal transport system, where buses, trucks, and electric truck networks all support movement across the state.

Young Travellers Drive Growth

According to redBus, travellers aged 18–36 formed almost two-thirds of all bookings. Male passengers accounted for 65% of the total. The interesting part is that 61% of bookings came from smaller towns and non-metro regions, showing how India’s rising mobility needs are not limited to big cities. The top six metro cities made up 33%, while state capitals added 6%.

Industry Leaders Share Insights

Prakash Sangam, CEO of redBus, said the sharp rise from 112 million passengers to 140 million passengers shows solid industry growth. He explained that growth came from more bus operators joining the platform, more buses being added to routes, and fresh digitisation in new towns. He also said customers now prefer AC buses more than before.
He added that this edition of BusTrack covers both low-season (April–June) and high-season (July–September) months to give a clear picture of India’s travel pattern.

About RedBus

RedBus is the world’s largest online bus ticketing platform by volume. It connects 10,000+ cities, covering 420,000 routes, and works with 4,500 private operators and 26 state transport corporations. The company has sold more than 466 million tickets globally and also operates in several countries, including Singapore, Malaysia, Peru, Colombia, Indonesia, Cambodia and Vietnam.

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Frequently Asked Questions On Commercial Vehicles

Q1. What caused the 25% growth in India’s intercity bus industry?

Ans. More bus operators joined the network, more routes opened, AC buses became popular, and bookings from small towns increased. Better road links also improved travel, along with strong truck and electric truck movement.

Q2. How many passengers travelled by intercity buses in April–September 2025?

Ans. Around 140 million passengers used intercity buses during this six-month period, showing strong demand even when people also use pickup, mini truck or private vehicles for some travel.

Q3. Which states recorded the highest bus seat bookings?

Ans. Maharashtra and Goa led with 16% of total bookings, followed by Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka. These states also have strong road networks used by buses, trucks and electric truck fleets.

Q4. Who booked the most intercity bus tickets this year?

Ans. Young travellers aged 18–36 years made nearly two-thirds of all bookings. Most of them travel for work, study or family trips, and prefer comfortable AC buses over driving long distances in a mini truck or pickup.

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