India’s intercity travel hits 79% occupancy in 2025: sciative report
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Tier-2 and Tier-3 corridors emerge as new growth engines, reflecting rising demand for premium travel experiences.
India’s intercity bus travel sector recorded strong and sustained momentum in 2025, with national occupancy per trip stabilising at 79%, signalling a confident recovery across both business and leisure corridors. According to a new analysis by Sciative Solutions, Agentic AI-led pricing intelligence company is playing a critical role in enabling operators to capitalise on rising demand while unlocking higher-value travel opportunities.
The study, based on aggregated data from 50 high-traffic intercity bus routes across North, South, East, West and Central India, highlights a market that is not only recovering but also shifting steadily toward premiumisation. Average revenue per trip stood at INR 40,892, while the average highest seat sold price reached INR 4,692, reflecting travellers’ growing willingness to pay for comfort, reliability and better travel experiences.
“India’s intercity bus mobility ecosystem has entered a phase of value-driven growth,” said Dr. Anshu Jalora, Founder & MD, Sciative Solutions. “The data shows clear signals of stabilised demand, stronger utilisation and an accelerated move toward premium seating. Agentic AI-led pricing and demand forecasting are enabling operators to respond intelligently to these shifts rather than relying on reactive fare-setting.”
Regionally, South and West India emerged as the strongest performers, each recording 84% occupancy per trip. South India led on revenue efficiency, averaging INR 50,278 per trip, driven by dense business corridors and long-distance overnight routes. West India mirrored high occupancy levels, supported by a balanced mix of weekday business travel and weekend leisure demand.
East India stood out as the highest-revenue region, averaging INR 48,999 per trip, despite a comparatively moderate occupancy of 72%. Longer routes, limited supply on key corridors and strong uptake of premium seats pushed the highest seat sold price in the region to INR 14,800, the highest nationally. Growth momentum in Tier-2 and Tier-3 hubs further indicates strong headroom for premium expansion.
North India maintained steady performance with 81% occupancy, driven by tourism, pilgrimage and Delhi-centric commuter routes, while Central India recorded 74% occupancy and consistent revenues supported by regional business and pilgrimage travel.
“Premiumisation is no longer confined to metros or peak seasons,” said Vijeta Soni, Co-founder & CEO, Sciative Solutions. “Our analysis shows that travellers across regions are increasingly valuing predictability, comfort and quality. With Agentic AI-powered pricing intelligence, operators can optimise seat allocation, anticipate demand patterns and improve profitability without compromising accessibility.”
