Festive Rush 2025: IntrCity SmartBus CEO Rathi on booming routes and changing trends

In an exclusive interview, Manish Rathi, Co-founder & CEO of IntrCity SmartBus, discusses this year’s festive travel surge, top routes, and changing passenger expectations.

As one of India’s leading intercity mobility brands, IntrCity SmartBus has a front-row view of how the country travels during the festive season. Bookings this year have surged 35% compared to the same period in 2024, with advance reservations nearly double those of regular non-festive weeks. 

To meet this growing demand, IntrCity has ramped up capacity with 70% more seats across its network, aiming to ensure a smooth and comfortable journey for every passenger, and expecting a 30% higher revenue contribution from this festive period versus last year.

The numbers tell a compelling story – India’s preference for premium, reliable bus travel is strengthening. Enhanced fleet capacity, flexible ticketing options, loyalty programs like Club Miles, trained captains, and onboard washrooms are now shaping passenger expectations, ensuring journeys are comfortable, predictable, and stress-free.

In this exclusive conversation, Manish Rathi, Co-founder & CEO, IntrCity SmartBus, shares insights on what’s driving this year’s festive surge, which routes are seeing the highest traffic, and how evolving passenger expectations are transforming intercity travel during India’s peak festive season.

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Can you give us an overview of how bookings are shaping up as the festive season approaches? And how has passenger demand evolved this year compared to 2024, especially for Diwali?

Yes, the festive season is off to a strong start, and we’re already witnessing a significant uptick in bookings. Compared to the same period last year, IntrCity SmartBus has recorded a 35% growth, and with Diwali still a week away, the momentum is expected to continue as last-minute travellers begin securing their seats. What’s encouraging is that this early surge reflects growing confidence among passengers in intercity bus travel. 

Our expanded fleet, upgraded onboard facilities, and flexible booking options ensure that passengers can travel smoothly, even during the peak season rush, without having to compromise on comfort or convenience

What, according to you, is driving this surge in bus bookings this festive season?

This is already the busiest season of the year for us, and it’s easy to see why. Airfares are on the rise, train availability is limited, and more travellers are turning to premium bus services for comfort and convenience. 

We’re seeing a clear surge because we’ve focused on both scale and experience, expanding our fleet and enhancing the onboard journey. From functional washrooms and trained captains to loyalty rewards through our Club Miles program and the Smart Switch feature that gives travellers flexibility, we’ve built an offering that passengers can trust. 

Essentially, it’s comfort, reliability, and flexibility that are driving this surge, and we’re seeing passengers respond with growing confidence in choosing bus travel this festive season.

Looking at the entire year, which festival typically drives the highest spike in passenger movement?

Diwali continues to be the biggest travel period for us, without a doubt. The roads fill up as families and friends plan reunions, and workers head home to celebrate. What’s interesting this year is how the demand curve has extended – back-to-back long weekends around Dussehra and Diwali mean high occupancy is sustained over a longer period.

Passengers are booking earlier and planning their trips more meticulously, which reflects the growing confidence and preference for comfortable, reliable bus travel. 

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Which routes are seeing the highest passenger traffic this festive season, and which destinations are emerging as the most booked by travellers?

This festive season, some of our busiest routes have been: 

• Delhi – Lucknow
• Mumbai – Pune
• Pune – Nagpur
• Chennai – Madurai
• Bengaluru – Hyderabad
• Mumbai – Indore 

These are the lifelines connecting metros with major Tier- 1 and 2 cities and popular travel hubs. Beyond these, other top destinations seeing strong bookings include Kanpur, Trichy, and Amritsar, reflecting the continued preference for hometown visits and traditional festive getaways. 

Have you noticed any new or emerging routes that are seeing increased bookings this festive season?

Interestingly, we haven’t seen any major shift toward new or emerging destinations this year. The travel trend remains largely consistent, with steady growth across established routes pan-India. Passengers continue to prefer popular corridors that connect metros to key Tier-2 cities, as well as traditional hometown and leisure routes that have reliably drawn demand year after year. 

So, our focus remains on tried-and-tested journeys that reliably meet passenger demand across the country.

How is bus inventory being adjusted to meet the festive rush? Have you added more buses or seats this year to keep up with growing demand?

Yes! To ensure everyone reaches home comfortably this Diwali, we’ve ramped up our bus inventory across the network. In fact, we’ve added around 70% more seats compared to a regular period, especially on the busiest routes. This isn’t just about adding buses – it’s about making travel smooth, stress-free, and reliable for passengers. 

By expanding our fleet and spreading capacity wisely, we’re able to meet the surge in demand while maintaining the comfort and convenience that travellers expect from IntrCity SmartBus.

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Do you see the festive season making a significant impact on IntrCity SmartBus’ annual revenues? How does this year compare to 2024 in terms of growth?

The festive season is a key driver for our annual revenues, and this year, with bookings already up by 30% compared to 2024, we’re anticipating a significant boost. And with Diwali still around the corner, the momentum is only set to grow, pushing revenues even higher. 

It’s not just about numbers – this surge reflects growing trust in our services and the fact that more passengers are choosing premium, reliable bus travel. Every additional booking during this period translates into smoother journeys for travellers and stronger business outcomes for us.