Delhi Interstate Buses Start Again Next Week: Full List of Routes, Fares and Timings

The Delhi government is preparing to restart its interstate bus service nearly 15 years after it was suspended. According to officials, the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) will roll out the first phase of operations on September 25, beginning with services to Baraut. The move comes after years of planning and follows the approval earlier this year of a proposal to reintroduce interstate connectivity with 100 new buses.

The first phase of the launch will include three buses connecting Delhi to Baraut. An official explained that the government chose a nearby destination for the launch to test the system before expanding operations. While the original plan was to introduce electric buses on all routes, the lack of charging infrastructure in distant states has delayed this shift. Instead, the upcoming rollout will rely on BS-VI compliant buses operated under a wet lease model, with private concessionaires running services on behalf of the DTC.

The DTC has already identified 17 major interstate routes for the revival, including popular destinations such as Rishikesh, Haridwar, and Dehradun in Uttarakhand; Panipat in Haryana; Ayodhya, Lucknow, and Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh; as well as Amritsar, Chandigarh, and Jammu. Officials confirmed that once the concessionaire is finalised, the buses will be deployed in stages across these routes.

The new long-route buses are expected to be 12 metres long, air-conditioned, and equipped with adequate luggage space. Fares will be finalised after agreements are signed, but authorities assured that prices would remain affordable and lower than most private operators currently on the same routes.

Delhi's interstate bus service was suspended in 2010 when the city transitioned its fleet to CNG, as neighbouring states lacked the infrastructure to support CNG buses. For decades prior, DTC buses were a trusted and affordable choice for passengers travelling to nearby states. The relaunch of the service is expected to restore that legacy, providing comfortable and economical interstate travel for thousands of daily commuters.