The fleet of 10 state-owned buses which ply between Gurgaon and Chandigarh via the Indira Gandhi International Airport and the ISBT is augmenting its services keeping in mind the clientele.

“This particular bus service caters to the higher income group. Keeping in mind the Shatabdi, we have decided to improve our services which will mean providing our passengers water, snacks and newspaper during the journey,” said Anand Mohan Sharan, transport commissioner, Haryana.

The mid-way stop from Delhi to Chandigarh is Panipat and on way back to Gurgaon it stops either at Karnal or Pipli. 

The Volvo buses, which have been in place for almost eight months start in the morning from Gurgaon at 6 am, 7 am and 8 am respectively and in the evening around 5.30 pm and reach Chandigarh in four-and-a-half hours as against three hours by Shatabdi. The fare for the journey is Rs 400 as compared to Rs 435 by Shatabdi.

The commissioner added that he plans to introduce the facility of advanced booking for these buses by next week.

“Our buses have 80-90 per cent occupancy on an average weekday and the rush is highest on weekends. Since there was no facility of an advanced booking, people returned home even if there was an emergency. However, now they can get their tickets from the respective state city bus stands.” Mohan said that the by this month end, the department plans to make the bookings online to make the process easier and more user-friendly. He said that the website will be announced shortly.

The news of advanced booking came as a wonderful surprise for the residents of Gurgaon.