Overhaul of India’s Bus Transport System Recommended

On 11 August 2026, the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture recommended a comprehensive overhaul of India’s bus transport system through reforms in permits, bus terminals, digital connectivity, safety, electric mobility and passenger services.

Key Points

392nd Report: The recommendations were made in the Committee’s 392nd Report, titled “Enabling Inclusive, Digital and Sustainable Bus Transport: Policy, Regulation and Public-Private Partnership for Next-Gen Mobility”.
New Passenger Permit: The Committee proposed replacing the All India Tourist Permit with an All India Passenger Permit within one year.
National Bus Digital Grid: A nationwide digital grid was proposed for unified booking, live tracking, passenger ratings and citizen reporting of bus and terminal conditions.
Electric Bus Transition: It proposed a Fleet Transition Compact, scrap-and-lease models, bulk procurement of electric buses and dedicated charging infrastructure.