Sleeper bus services between MP Rajasthan suspended:10,000 daily passengers affected as 7,000 buses remain off roads

Private bus operators across Rajasthan have gone on strike, bringing around 7,000 sleeper buses to a halt. The impact has extended to Madhya Pradesh, where buses running from Bhopal, Indore and Ujjain to Rajasthan cities like Jaipur, Bikaner and Udaipur have also stopped operations. At Bhopal’s Inter-State Bus Terminal (ISBT), more than 20 AC and deluxe buses bound for Rajasthan have been parked for four consecutive days. Online booking for these routes has been closed for the past three days. While some passengers aware of the strike have postponed their journeys, others unaware of the situation have been stranded at the bus stand. Every day, around 150 buses travel between Bhopal, Indore, Ujjain and Rajasthan, carrying nearly 10,000 passengers. Bus operators say it is uncertain when services will resume. Passengers stranded at bus stand Many passengers heading to Rajasthan have been left stranded at Bhopal’s ISBT. Bharatlal, who was traveling to Bikaner for work with his wife, said he had no idea that buses were not running. He said, We were told to go to Lalghati to find a vehicle, but there too we found nothing. Now we’re being asked to pay ₹2,200 per person for a private taxi to Jodhpur. We can’t afford that. We have no choice but to return home. Bharatlal’s situation mirrors that of thousands of passengers who are either forced to return home or pay several times the regular fare to reach their destinations. Due to lack of awareness about the strike, many passengers are arriving at bus stands only to find all services halted. Bus operators had stopped online bookings three days ago, but the message did not reach all passengers. As a result, scenes of confusion continue at major terminals in Bhopal and Indore. Buses remain parked for days, train crowds swell As buses remain grounded, passengers have turned to trains as the only available mode of transport. However, the sudden rush has led to overcrowded trains. There is no space to stand in general compartments, and waiting lists for trains from Bhopal to Jaipur, Bikaner, Udaipur and Jodhpur stretch until November 4 and 5. Even in AC coaches, confirmed tickets are almost impossible to find. A few seats are available on trains from Indore to Jodhpur, but the Jaipur route remains completely full. This has left travelers facing a double setback — with both buses halted and trains overcrowded. Drivers and conductors also stuck The strike has not only affected passengers but also drivers and conductors, many of whom are stranded away from home. They have been living inside their buses for days. Dilip Birala, a driver operating on the Bhopal–Jaipur route, said, Two of our buses used to go from Bhopal to Jaipur daily, but they have been parked here for three days. The Indore bus has been off the road for 15 days. We’re sleeping inside the bus and cooking food here. The owner has told us to stay because if RTO officials catch us midway, we’ll be in trouble. Passengers keep calling, asking when the bus will run again. Govt action after Jaisalmer, Manoharpur accidents The ongoing strike began after the Rajasthan Transport Department launched a crackdown following two major bus accidents in Jaisalmer and Manoharpur. The department intensified inspections of private and sleeper buses, citing safety issues such as faulty emergency exits and non-standard body designs. Bus owners allege that these actions have been one-sided and excessively punitive. They claim that buses are being fined between ₹50,000 and ₹1 lakh daily, and many vehicles have been seized. Operators argue that despite following regulations, including installation of fire extinguishers, emergency gates on both sides, and department-approved fitness certifications, their buses are being penalised. Operators demand reopening workshops, give 6 months’ time In response, the Akhil Rajasthan Contract Carriage Bus Association has announced an indefinite strike. Operators demand that the government reopen seized bus body workshops and give them at least six months to modify their buses as per new safety regulations. Private travels owner Buddha Ram said, The transport department’s sudden action has made it impossible to function. Workshops across the state have been sealed, and those still open are not taking work out of fear. Even if we want to make the required changes, where will we go? We need at least six months to comply with the new norms. Bus operators say they are ready to follow the government’s rules but need time and opportunity to make improvements. In some buses, operators have already started making modifications — removing front sleeper seats near emergency exits and installing additional fire extinguishers. Bus strike causes arbitrary fare collection With thousands of buses off the roads, some private operators are taking advantage of the situation by charging inflated fares. The few buses running secretly are collecting three to four times the normal ticket price from passengers desperate to travel. Meanwhile, services from Madhya Pradesh to other destinations, such as Pune, Ahmedabad, Surat, and Mumbai, continue normally. Although RTO checks are being conducted on these routes, enforcement is not as strict as on the Rajasthan-bound routes. Impact beyond passengers The strike has caused a cascading effect on multiple sectors. Transport hubs like Bhopal ISBT and Indore Sarvate Bus Stand are reporting near-empty platforms. Small vendors, tea stall owners, and helpers dependent on daily passenger movement are also facing losses. Officials from the Madhya Pradesh Transport Department said they are monitoring the situation but have not received any formal notification about when services to Rajasthan will resume. The coordination between the two states’ transport departments remains limited, as the strike is being led by Rajasthan-based private operators. Bus owners say they will continue the strike until the government responds to their demands. Buddha Ram said, We want safety as much as the government does. But arbitrary fines and sudden seizures are not the solution. Give us time and fair treatment — we will make every modification required. Until then, thousands of passengers across both states, and hundreds of drivers, conductors and small business owners — remain caught in limbo, waiting for buses to start moving again.