Bus Ticket Booking Online: KSRTC, UPSRTC, APSRTC & More

Gone are the days of standing in long queues at bus stands. Almost all state transport corporations in India now offer online bus ticket booking through their official portals and mobile apps. You can also book through aggregators like redBus and MakeMyTrip. This guide covers the complete process.

Major State Transport Portals

How to Book Bus Tickets on Official Portals

Step 1: Visit the Portal

Go to the official website of your state transport corporation (see table above).

Step 2: Search for Buses

1. Enter Source (departure city/town)
2. Enter Destination
3. Select Date of Journey
4. Click Search or Find Buses

Step 3: Select Your Bus

• Choose from available buses (AC/Non-AC, Sleeper, Semi-Sleeper, Volvo, etc.)
• Check departure time, arrival time, and fare
• Look at bus type — Ordinary, Express, Deluxe, Super Deluxe, Airavat (Karnataka)

Step 4: Select Seats

• Click on the bus to see the seat layout
• Available seats are shown in green/white; booked seats in red/grey
• Select your preferred seat(s)
• Ladies seats are reserved — male passengers cannot book them

Step 5: Enter Passenger Details

• Full name, age, gender, mobile number
• Email ID for e-ticket delivery

Step 6: Make Payment

• UPI (PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm)
• Debit/Credit card
• Net banking
• Wallets (on some portals)

Step 7: Get E-Ticket

• E-ticket is sent via SMS and email
• Download or take a screenshot
• No need to print — show the e-ticket on your phone to the conductor

Booking via redBus

redBus is India's largest bus ticket booking platform and partners with most state transport corporations.

1. Open redbus.in or the redBus app
2. Enter source, destination, and date
3. Filter by bus type, departure time, price, or rating
4. Select bus → Choose seats
5. Enter passenger details
6. Pay via UPI, card, net banking, or wallet
7. E-ticket sent to your phone

Advantage of redBus: Compare government and private buses side by side, user reviews, live tracking on some routes.

Booking via MakeMyTrip / Paytm / ixigo

These platforms also offer state transport bus bookings:

• MakeMyTrip: makemytrip.com/bus-tickets
• Paytm: Bus tickets section in the Paytm app
• ixigo: ixigo.com/bus

The process is similar — search, select, pay, get e-ticket.

Bus Ticket Cancellation & Refund

On Official Portals

On redBus / Aggregators

• Cancellation policy depends on the bus operator
• Check the specific cancellation policy shown during booking
• Refund is credited to the original payment method or as redBus wallet credit
• Some operators offer zero cancellation or free cancellation tickets at a higher fare

Types of Bus Services

Important Tips

1. Book early for festival seasons and weekends — seats fill up fast, especially on popular routes
2. Check the official portal first — fares are often cheaper than aggregators as there's no convenience fee
3. Save your e-ticket offline — you may not have network at some bus stations
4. Arrive 15 minutes early — buses often depart on time from the origin stop
5. Use live tracking (available on redBus and some state apps) to know exact arrival time at your stop

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Can I book state transport bus tickets on redBus?

Yes, redBus has partnerships with most state transport corporations including KSRTC, APSRTC, TSRTC, UPSRTC, MSRTC, and others. You can book government bus tickets directly on redBus.

Q2. Is it cheaper to book on the official portal or redBus?

Official portals are usually cheaper as they don't charge a convenience fee. However, redBus sometimes offers discounts and cashback offers that may make up the difference.

Q3. Can I board the bus without a printed ticket?

Yes, for online bookings, you can show the e-ticket (SMS or email) on your phone to the conductor. No physical printout is required.

Q4. What if my bus is cancelled by the operator?

You will receive a full refund to your original payment method. On aggregators like redBus, you may also get the option to rebook on another bus.

Q5. Can I change my travel date after booking?

Most state transport corporations do not allow date changes. You need to cancel and rebook. On redBus, date change may be available for select operators.

Q6. How do I get a GST invoice for my bus ticket?

On redBus, you can download a GST invoice from the "My Bookings" section. On official portals, the e-ticket usually includes tax details.

Disclaimer: CitizenNest is an independent platform and is not affiliated with any state transport corporation. Fares, timings, and cancellation policies may change — always verify on the official portal before booking.