India to soon have airline-like super deluxe double decker bus services connecting big cities

If all goes to plan, India will soon have its own line of super deluxe buses offering services similar to those in airlines to goad people to use public transport, wean people away from private vehicles and ease traffic congestion on busy national highway stretches.

Sources, who did not wish to be identified, said the road transport ministry, headed by Nitin Gadkari, was examining a proposal to launch double decker super deluxe buses between important cities to decongest traffic and incentivise people to use public transport.

These buses will “have separate decks for executive and economy” classes along with facilities like recliners, food and beverage availability and steward and hostess assistance, among others.

“Bus ports,” modelled on the lines of airports could be created that will serve as dedicated parking bays at select locations for the luxury fleet.

The proposal draws from the recommendations of an internal report of the ministry that strengthening public transport systems is a necessary condition for dealing with the problem of vehicular population explosion.

This will also help control pollution and create jobs.

Officials said that such buses will run on “electricity, ethanol gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG)” that will be both cost effective and environment friendly.

“We want to save fuel costs, while allowing common man to enjoy luxury facilities,” said the official.

The ministry will seek assistance from World Bank and other international financial agencies to support the plan.