UPSRTC (Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation) is among the oldest bus operators in India. UPSRTC started its operations in the state in 1947 only. However, it was referred to as Uttar Pradesh Government Roadways in 1947. Its current name “UPSRTC” was chosen in 1972. Since UPSRTC has been under the state government since its incorporation, it has always had a massive fleet size. Started with around 4,253 buses, UPSRTC now has a massive fleet of more than 11,200 buses. It is among the top operators for travel within Uttar Pradesh and other states of North India.
Besides offering bus services to around nine states and the country’s capital, UPSRTC also extends its operations to Nepal. One can find UPSRTC buses to travel to/from Nepal at regular intervals. UPSRTC has approximately 300 bus stations in different cities to offer bus services to passengers. Out of all the bus stations, around 249 are permanently owned by UPSRTC. Since the bus company belongs to the state government, the fare is affordable for the common people within the state. UPSRTC also offered multiple bus types to fit everyone’s needs. Read on to understand the different types of buses offered by UPSRTC.
Ordinary Non-AC Buses
Ordinary buses by UPSRTC on most routes within the state. Ordinary buses are non-AC buses that can help common people get around the state quickly. These buses do not have sleeper seats or air conditioners for passengers. Ordinary buses by UPSRTC have seater seats that are comfortable and offer ample legroom. Even though the seats aren’t adjustable, they offer a comfy travel experience to the passengers. If you aren’t travelling on a long route, Ordinary buses by UPSRTC are the right choice. Ordinary buses by UPSRTC are sometimes called Roadways buses by the common people.
As discussed above, UPSRTC is a state-owned bus corporation that caters to the needs of the general public. Ordinary Non-AC buses were launched by UPSRTC to fulfil the travel needs of the general public. If all buses will have high fare rates, how will the general public of the state travel? It is why UPSRTC came up with Ordinary Non-AC buses for the general public. The fare rate for Ordinary Non-AC buses by UPSRTC is Rs. 1.30 per km for a single passenger. Besides covering the routes within the state, Ordinary Non-AC buses also travel to neighbouring states. One can view the digital seat layout of any UPSRTC bus on redBus before booking seats.
Lohia Gramin Sewa
UPSRTC focuses on improving the overall travel infrastructure of the state. It also connects people to different cities within UP and neighbouring states. Improving the travel facilities in urban areas and metropolitan cities is not the only solution. UPSRTC focuses especially on the rural section of the state, which does not have access to abundant public transport. For the same rationale, UPSRTC started Lohia Gramin Sewa, also known as Rural Bus Services. With the help of Rural Bus Services, UPSRTC connects more than 80,0000 small and big villages. It is a commendable job from UPSRTC considering there isn’t any other public transport medium in some of the villages.
Since Lohia Gramin Sewa is for people living in villages, tehsils, and small towns, the fare is considerably low. The fare of Rural Bus Services by UPSRTC is around 70% of Ordinary buses’ fare. At present, the fare of Lohia Gramin Seva buses by UPSRTC is around Rs. 0.9750 per km. UPSRTC operates Lohia Gramin Seva buses between district headquarters and lesser-known locations, villages, and tehsils. Earlier, farmers from villages found it hard to carry their agricultural produce to cities. To solve this problem, UPSRTC has allowed villagers to carry their produce on buses and take it to the desired location. These rural buses are not air-conditioned but have comfortable seats for passengers.
Janrath Buses
UPSRTC realised that many people live in cities and rural areas with an average/low monthly income. These individuals also want to travel on luxury buses but back down due to high fares. For the same rationale, UPSRTC came up with Janrath buses for economical travel. With Janrath buses, passengers can enjoy luxury bus services within UP and neighbouring states. You don’t have to dig a hole in your pocket to enjoy Janrath bus services by UPSRTC. These buses by UPSRTC are AC buses with other amenities like charging points, reading lights, adjustable seats, and curtains. It is crucial to note that these buses are air-conditioned and have seater seats only.
UPSRTC operates two types of Janrath buses based on the seating arrangement. Janrath buses with 2+2 seating arrangements usually have 36 seats in total. The fare of Janrath (2+2) buses by UPSRTC is 1.9376 per km. One will have more extra legroom and overall space in a UPSRTC Janrath (2+2) bus. UPSRTC also operates Janrath buses with 2+3 seating arrangements. The fare of Janrath (2+3) buses is around 1.6386 per km. Since the fare is not extremely high, anyone can enjoy luxury bus services with UPSRTC. Janrath buses come under the category of economical AC buses for the general public. One can view the seating layout of Janrath buses on redBus before booking tickets.
Shatabdi Buses
Shatabdi Buses by UPSRTC are similar to Janrath buses. They are also AC buses launched for people with low income who want to enjoy premium bus services. For now, Shatabdi buses are AC buses with seater seats. However, the seats inside Shatabdi buses are adjustable, thus offering a better travel experience. One will also have access to other amenities like charging points, overhead lights, and curtains in Shatabdi buses by UPSRTC. Overall, the travel experience is unmatched in a Shatabdi bus by UPSRTC. It is crucial to note that some private operators also run buses under the name of Shatabdi. While booking bus tickets via redBus, ensure that you choose Shatabdi buses by UPSRTC.
The fare of Shatabdi buses by UPSRTC is similar to that of Janrath buses. However, the fare of Shatabdi buses can be a little high in some cases. Besides offering luxury travel experiences to passengers, Shatabdi buses are also known for their speed. They can take you from one city to another in quick succession. Also, Shatabdi buses are equipped with modern safety systems. UPSRTC pays special attention to improving the safety of passengers on all its buses. For the same rationale, Shatabdi buses are made according to the latest safety measures. One can view the seat layout and fare of a UPSRTC Shatabdi bus on redBus while booking tickets.
Pink Buses
The state government of UP is responsible for ensuring the safety of women in public spaces. The government must also ensure the safety of women when travelling in local or intercity buses. For the same rationale, UPSRTC came up with the idea of Pink Buses. These buses are specially designed for female passengers in UP. Only female passengers can get on a UPSRTC Pink bus. If you are accompanying a female passenger, you can get on a Pink Bus by UPSRTC. However, male passengers cannot board a Pink Bus when they aren’t accompanied by female passengers. By giving a separate travel option to female passengers, UPSRTC has increased the safety level.
The best part about a UPSRTC Pink Bus is that there will be a female bus conductor. Also, Pink buses are air-conditioned to offer elevated travel experiences to females and their co-passengers. Do you know UPSRTC Pink buses have CCTV and Panic Button for increased safety of females? During an emergency, passengers can press the Panic Button, and connect to 112 (Emergency Response Support System number). A UPSRTC Pink Bus will also have additional amenities like reclinable seats, charging points, reading lights, water bottles, and movie screens. UPSRTC is supposed to launch pink buses in more cities in the future. One can view the amenities offered by a Pink Bus on redBus while booking tickets. One can easily distinguish a UPSRTC Ladies Special Bus as it is painted entirely in pink.
Maitri Sewa Buses
As discussed above, UPSRTC also offers bus services to/from Nepal. However, it is the only international service offered by UPSRTC to passengers. Maitri Sewa buses are an attempt to promote international tourism among the people of Uttar Pradesh. For the same rationale, Maitri Sewa buses travel to different destinations in Nepal, including Nepalganj and Pokhara. Indian tourists do not require Visa or passport to visit various destinations in Nepal. You can easily travel to Nepal and come back to your source city with Maitri Sewa buses. Don’t forget to check the timings of Maitri Sewa buses before making travel plans to Nepal.
Maitri Sewa buses are air-conditioned buses to offer an elevated travel experience. Since the main aim of Maitri Sewa buses is to promote international tourism, many amenities are offered to passengers during their trips. Charging points, reading lights, curtains, seat covers, ergonomic seats, and many other facilities are available to passengers on Maitri Sewa buses. UPSRTC has also kept the fare of Maitri Sewa buses affordable. Now, anyone can travel to Nepal and spend their vacations with Maitri Sewa buses. To know more about Maitri Sewa buses, you can search on redBus or visit the official website of UPSRTC.
Volvo Buses
Volvo Buses offered by UPSRTC come under the Premium segment. The fare of Volvo buses is on the higher side due to premium bus services. Volvo buses offered by UPSRTC are perfect for long-distance travel. Comfortable seats and spacious interiors in Volvo buses will make your journey better. The fare of Volvo buses offered by UPSRTC is around Rs. 2.8614 per km. These buses are equipped with ACs, reading lights, curtains, seat covers, adjustable seats, and more. Usually, the seating arrangement of UPSRTC Volvo buses is 2+2.
UPSRTC also offers non-stop Volvo buses on several intercity routes. A non-stop Volvo bus will not stop for hours in between the intercity route. It is perfect for passengers who want to reach a city in UP or a neighbouring state faster. UPSRTC also offers some buses under the name of Pawan Hans Volvo. If the Volvo bus offered by UPSRTC consists of sleeper seats, the fare will rise accordingly. One can check the seat layout and fare of a UPSRTC Volvo bus on redBus for free.
Scania Buses
Do you know UPSRTC is the first state-owned operator to launch Scania bus services in North India? Scania buses are state-of-the-art buses with ample amenities onboard for passengers. Besides offering world-class amenities, Scania coaches are also safe for passengers. Modern safety systems are embedded in Scania buses of UPSRTC. The average fare range on Scania buses is between Rs. 2.8614 to Rs. 2.5878 per km. It is crucial to note that Scania buses offered by UPSRTC fall under the Premium segment. For the same rationale, the fare of UPSRTC Scania buses is on the higher side.
UPSRTC also offers Scania buses with sleeper seats. These buses are perfect for a night on long-distance journeys. You don’t have to sacrifice your sleep when travelling on a UPSRTC Scania bus. Also, you will be provided with pillows and blankets on sleeper buses offered by UPSRTC. The supply of blankets was stopped for a while during the COVID pandemic. You can check the amenities offered by a UPSRTC Scania bus on redBus before confirming your seats. Non-stop Scania buses are also operated by UPSRTC for some specific routes. Non-stop buses offered by UPSRTC are perfect for fast transfers between cities.
Summing up
Besides the aforementioned bus types, some other services are also extended by UPSRTC. For example, UPSRTC operates low-floor or CNG buses in multiple cities for local transport. CNG buses for local transport are available in cities like Lucknow, Kanpur, Greater Noida, Mathura, and Ghaziabad. To understand more about the bus types offered by UPSRTC, you can visit redBus website. One can also rely on redBus to understand more about UPSRTC buses. redBus will allow you to view the amenities and onboard facilities available on a UPSRTC bus before booking tickets. Check your UPSRTC bus on redBus and book tickets now!