redBus, the world's largest online bus ticketing platform, has unveiled its latest India BusTrack Report, highlighting a significant 24% increase in intercity bus passengers from October 2025 to March 2026. This surge saw 147.19 million passengers travelling across India, with a notable focus on the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana regions.

The report reveals that the gross ticketing value rose by 20% to $1.71 billion (₹142.16 billion), whilst the number of active private bus operators expanded to over 6,800. This growth underscores the expanding network and increasing demand for intercity bus travel in India. The report also indicates a strong preference for comfort, with 86% of journeys made on sleeper and hybrid buses, and 72% on air-conditioned services.

Key insights from the report show that young travellers, aged 18 to 36, are the primary drivers of demand, accounting for 69% of bookings. Additionally, 62% of bus journeys originate from smaller cities and towns, highlighting the growing digitalisation of bus ticketing in these areas.

In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, intra-regional travel dominates, making up 69% of the total travel. The average ticket price in these regions is $12.22 (₹1,016), higher than the national average of $11.61 (₹966), reflecting strong demand. The bus occupancy rate in these states stands at 83%, surpassing the national average of 77%.

Prakash Sangam, CEO of redBus, noted, "This edition of India BusTrack covers the second half of the last financial year. During this period, the intercity bus market grew by 24% in terms of passengers travelled, compared to the same period last year."

The full report, offering detailed insights into industry growth and trends, is available on the redBus blog

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