Haryana Floats Tender for 500 Intercity Buses

GURUGRAM: Haryana has opened a fresh procurement round for 500 intercity buses, a move that could add capacity on busy routes serving Gurugram and the state's other National Capital Region districts. The Department of State Transport floated a tender worth about Rs 174 crore on Friday as part of its fleet-expansion plan for 2026-27.

The tender covers non-air-conditioned diesel buses compliant with Bharat Stage-VI emission norms. Bids have been invited until September 1. The proposed purchase is not an immediate addition to the road fleet: suppliers must first clear the tender, deliver a prototype for technical and safety evaluation and then begin phased production.

Routes to be decided after delivery begins

Transport officials said the buses would be used on high-demand intercity corridors, including routes through Haryana's 14 NCR districts. Specific route allocations have not yet been announced. Those decisions are expected after the first batch arrives, either later in 2026 or in early 2027, based on passenger demand and operational requirements.

That sequencing is important for Gurugram commuters. The city is a major origin and destination for workers and students travelling from Delhi, Faridabad, Nuh, Rewari, Jhajjar and other districts. An increase in the statewide fleet can improve frequency only if buses are assigned to overloaded corridors and supported by realistic timetables, depot staff and maintenance capacity.

Prototype faces technical checks

Under the proposed procurement, the successful bidder will supply a prototype before monthly deliveries begin. Officials said the test vehicle will undergo technical and safety checks. The supply programme is expected to be completed over ten months after the prototype stage, though the final schedule will depend on the contract.

The specifications call for buses about 11.2 metres long with a 3x2 fixed seating layout, three electronic destination displays and a maximum speed of 80 kmph. Officials have also referred to an aerodynamic body design intended to improve fuel efficiency. These are proposed tender specifications, not features of vehicles already operating.

Haryana currently operates more than 4,500 intercity buses through 24 depots and 13 sub-depots. The new tender follows an earlier state purchase approval for 650 buses, comprising 500 non-AC and 150 air-conditioned vehicles. The present bidding round concerns the 500 non-AC units.

Gurugram's role in the network

Gurugram depot was among the stronger performers in a September 2025 internal assessment of earnings per kilometre, recording Rs 28.51 per km. Financial performance, however, is only one measure of a public service. For passengers, reliability, safe boarding, last-mile connections and useful departure times determine whether a bus is a practical alternative to a private vehicle.

The procurement therefore creates an opportunity rather than an instant result. The next milestones will be a completed tender, a prototype that passes evaluation, and a public route plan showing where the new capacity will go. Until those steps are complete, commuters should treat the 500-bus figure as an approved procurement exercise, not as buses already available at Gurugram's stands.