Why RTC Buses are the Best Bet for All Budget Travelers in India

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Photo of Why RTC Buses are the Best Bet for All Budget Travelers in India by Shraddhanvita Tiwari

Are you on a tight budget and want to travel by bus in India? Well, buses are the best way to travel when on a tight budget as compared to other transportation services. However, there are abundant bus companies in India and their prices differ based on bus type or amenities offered. Passengers in India often prefer RTCs (Road Transport Corporations) to travel when on a tight budget. RTC buses are state-owned bus companies and are known to provide affordable rates in India. Read on to know about RTC buses and how they help with budget travel in India.

Vast Reach

Almost every state has its own RTC network and there are around 25 RTCs in India. All the RTCs are owned and regulated by the respective state governments. Generally, RTC buses of a state also serve the neighboring states. For example, JKSRTC (Jammu & Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation) buses not only serve J&K but also serve neighboring states like Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and others. Since all of the RTC networks have a vast reach, they cover PAN India together. You can get anywhere quickly with RTCs well-appointed road transport network.

Low Cost

Since RTC buses are owned by the concerned state government, it aims at providing subsidized bus tickets to passengers. As compared to private bus companies, RTCs have lower bus rates. Daily commuters who want to keep their expenses in check often prefer RTC buses for conveyance. Due to their low bus ticket costs, RTCs are preferred by many passengers in India. Some RTCs like TSRTC provide a trip of up to 3 KMs in just 4 rupees.

The cost benefits of travelling with RTC are huge. Private bus companies often add middleman charges and taxes that increase the bus fare. Since government organizations are always answerable to the public, they cannot apply unreasonable rates for RTC bus tickets. The main motive of RTC is to cater to the transportation needs of each section of society. With the fuel price in India rising, you can travel with RTC buses to keep your expenses in check.

Diverse Amenities

If RTCs are offering cheap bus tickets, it doesn’t mean that their services are not that good. RTC not only offers cheap buses but also offers luxury buses for travel. Many RTCs offer deluxe and luxury buses that are equipped with amenities like air conditioners, sleeper seats, TV, toilet, entertainment system, and others. The RTC bus price for luxurious buses will be more than budget buses by RTC. RTC is for the weaker section of society as well as for the higher section. RTCs also allow daily commuters like students, teachers, and job professionals to apply for a monthly/yearly bus pass. RTC bus pass will not reduce your monthly/yearly travel cost as you will pay at once.

Safety

Safety is the biggest concern for passengers travelling by bus in India. RTC buses are built according to the latest safety standards for providing a safe journey to citizens. You can find various safety amenities on RTC buses like a fire extinguisher, first aid box, emergency exit door, hammer (to break glass in emergencies), etc. Recently, amidst the COVID pandemic, state governments took safety measures to provide safe bus services to Indians. You can get various safety features on RTC buses without paying a huge ticket cost.

Top RTCs in India

Some of the popular RTCs in India are as follows:

APSRTC

APSRTC (Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation) is headquartered in Vijayawada and serves around eight Indian states.

Top routes by APSRTC

• Hyderabad to Vijayawada

• Tirupati to Bangalore

• Visakhapatnam to Anakapalle

• Hyderabad to Guntur

• Kakinada to Visakhapatnam

Amenities offered

• Charging point

• Water bottle

• Air freshener

• Air conditioners

• Disposable seat covers

RSRTC

RSRTC (Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation) was established in 1964 and currently has a massive fleet size of around 4500 buses.

Top routes by RSRTC

• Jaipur to Delhi

• Ajmer to Jaipur

• Sikar to Jaipur

• Ajmer to Beawer

• Jhunjhunu to Nawalgarh

Amenities offered

• WIFI

• Reading light

• Water bottle

• Charging point

• Emergency exit door

UPSRTC

UPSRTC (Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation) offers many RTC bus routes and is one of the largest bus companies in the nation.

Top routes by UPSRTC

• Lucknow to Barabanki

• Lucknow to Faizabad

• Banda to Kanpur

• Delhi to Khurja

• Bareilly to Kaushambi

Amenities offered

• Air conditioners

• Adjustable seats

• Charging point

• Central TV

• Reading light

HRTC

HRTC (Himachal Road Transport Corporation) is among the first Indian bus companies that started providing e-ticketing services to passengers.

Top routes by HRTC

• Delhi to Shimla

• Shimla to Ambala

• Mandi to Delhi

• Palampur to Karnal

• Delhi to Manali

Amenities offered

• First aid box

• Snacks

• TV

• Charging points

• Hand rest

KSRTC

KSRTC (Kerala State Road Transport Corporation) has a fleet size of around 6,241 buses that cover more than 6000 RTC bus routes.

Top routes by KSRTC

• Thrissur to Ernakulam

• Ernakulam to Thiruvananthapuram

• Alapuzha to Kollam

• Kottayam to Thrissur

• Mysore to Bangalore

Amenities offered

• Pillows

• Television

• Charging point

• Reading light

• WIFI

MSRTC

MSRTC (Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation) has an impressive fleet size of more than 18,000 buses. Its history dates back to 1948 and, it serves many RTC bus routes daily.

Top routes by MSRTC

• Mumbai to Pune

• Pune to Nasik

• Ahmednagar to Pune

• Thane to Pune

• Aurangabad to Ahmednagar

Amenities offered

• Night lamp

• Fire safety system

• Recliner seats

• Water bottle

• Charging point

TSRTC

TSRTC (Telangana State Road Transport Corporation) is among the newest RTC members. Established in 2014, TSRTC serves around one crore passengers every day.

Top routes by TSRTC

• Hyderabad to Karimnagar

• Vijayawada to Hyderabad

• Hyderabad to Bangalore

• Hyderabad to Kodad

• Bangalore to Kurnool

Amenities offered

• LED TVs

• Fire extinguisher

• Seat pockets

• Window curtains

• Reading lights

RTC is the best option for budget travellers in India who are also concerned about their safety. RTC bus routes are spread across PAN India for passenger flexibility. Compare the RTC bus price and start booking tickets!