RedBus Intercity Travelers: redBus Reports Record 223 Million Intercity Journeys in FY25, Revealing Travel Trends and Innovations, ET TravelWorld
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Online bus ticketing platform redBus has released its FY25 edition of the India Intercity BusTrack Report, estimating that over 223.85 million intercity journeys were made in the last financial year. The figure, which mirrors the population size of Brazil, reflects the enduring relevance of buses as a core component of India's transport infrastructure.The annual report provides a detailed picture of intercity travel trends across states, regions, and user segments, building on redBus' earlier quarterly analyses. For FY25, the company has also included insights from the January–March quarter to supplement the year-round overview with more recent data points.From religious pilgrimages and festive travel to long-distance student migration and last-minute bookings, the report shows how bus travel remains among the most democratic and versatile modes of transport in India. On average, more than 650,000 people travelled by bus daily, comparable to the population of cities like Jamshedpur or Amravati.'The past year has underscored the vital role intercity bus travel plays in India's mobility landscape, yet it remains one of the least studied modes of transport,' said Prakash Sangam, CEO, redBus. 'With redBus BusTrack, we set out to build a year-long, data-driven view of the industry across seasons, regions, and user groups. This report is a step toward greater transparency and informed decision-making across the travel ecosystem.'Among the key findings, India witnessed the launch of over 72,000 new intercity routes in FY25. The country also recorded its longest single ride—3,062 kilometres—from Ernakulam to Dharamshala. A notable shift towards clean mobility was observed, with 760 electric buses now operational in the intercity segment. The total fleet grew by 6,400 buses, adding 265,000 daily seats for passengers.The highest single-day ridership was recorded on 1 November 2024, the day after Diwali, with more than 970,000 travellers in a single day. The report also highlights the influence of digitisation in Tier 2 and Tier 3 towns, increased demand for overnight comfort travel, and data-led forecasting for private and state-run operators.The report, drawing insights from over 220 million journeys, is available on the redBus Blog.
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