From 34 to 107: How Chhattisgarh’s Rural Bus Initiative Boosted Connectivity
What began as a modest pilot of 34 buses on 34 routes in October 2025 has expanded into a wide‑scale transport network of 107 buses serving 106 routes across 13 districts of Bastar and Surguja. The initiative has reached 850 villages that previously lacked any scheduled passenger service.
During its first year the fleet logged about 2.4 million kilometres, translating to a daily run of roughly 17,500 km. The total approved corridor length stands at approximately 5,300 km, with individual stretch lengths ranging from 14 km to 105 km, most of them operating two trips per day.
The rollout has been phased. The first batch linked 250 villages; the second wave added routes in Sukma (8 routes, 9 buses), Dantewada (7 routes, 7 buses), Bijapur (11 routes, 11 buses), Narayanpur, Bastar, Kanker and Kondagaon. In Surguja, routes are spread across Surguja (8 buses), Surajpur (9 buses), Balrampur (7 buses), Jashpur (16 buses), Korba (6 buses) and Manendragarh‑Chirmiri‑Bharatpur (4 buses).
Beyond moving passengers, the buses serve as a mini‑logistics chain. Rural producers now deliver mango, mahua, timber and other forest products to markets, while essential goods flow back to the villages. This two‑way exchange has invigorated local trade and reduced reliance on informal, unsafe transport.
Financially, the state backs operators on thin‑demand routes with a kilometre‑based subsidy – Rs 26/km in year one, Rs 24/km in year two, and Rs 22/km in year three. To date, Rs 5.77 crore has been released to 107 operators. GPS trackers on every vehicle feed live data to the MMGBY portal, ensuring transparency and kilometre‑linked reimbursements.
The scheme also incorporates social safeguards: 100% fare exemption for the blind, intellectually disabled, wheelchair users, seniors above 80 and HIV/AIDS patients; 50% discount for Naxal‑affected individuals certified by the collector. The policy reflects the government’s commitment to reaching the farthest corners of the state.