Passengers returning to Delhi after Diwali are struggling to find bus seats from Lucknow , with online-bookable services on the route reported to be full until November 15.
The return rush follows a rise in arrivals from Delhi during the festival, even as fewer buses were operated compared with last year.
Private services are witnessing heavy bookings too. 1.15 lakh passengers travelled from Delhi to Lucknow by bus over four days during Diwali, against 1.03 lakh last year, according to figures shared by the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC). The number of buses operated during the festival, however, fell from 1,052 to 945. More than 230 private buses are operating on the Lucknow–Delhi route, with nearly 90% of their seats already booked, according to the information provided. This figure relates to private services overall, while the reported unavailability until November 15 concerns online-bookable services.
