Uber has launched intercity bus ticket booking on its app in India, making the country the first market globally where the company has introduced this service. The new feature allows users to search, compare, and book long-distance bus journeys directly within the Uber app.
The move expands Uber’s travel services in India beyond ride-hailing and intercity cab rides. By integrating bus ticket booking into the same platform, Uber aims to simplify travel planning for users who frequently move between cities.
Partnership with AbhiBus
To support the new service, Uber has partnered with AbhiBus, a digital bus ticketing platform that connects multiple private bus operators across India.
Through this integration, users can view available bus routes, check departure times, select seats, and complete bookings within the Uber app itself. The system combines Uber’s large user base with AbhiBus’s network of operators and routes across different states.
This partnership allows Uber to quickly expand its presence in the intercity bus travel segment without operating buses directly.
India Chosen as First Global Market
Uber has chosen India as the first country worldwide to introduce its intercity bus ticket booking feature. The company has often used India as a testing ground for new mobility products due to the scale and diversity of the market.
India’s growing digital ecosystem and increasing use of mobile apps for travel planning make it an important market for such services. Millions of passengers travel between cities every day, and a large portion of these journeys are made by buses.
By launching the service in India first, Uber is exploring ways to expand its role beyond urban ride-hailing into broader travel solutions.
Expansion of Intercity Travel Options
Uber has already been offering intercity cab services across thousands of routes in India. These rides allow users to travel between cities using private cars booked through the app.
With the addition of bus ticket booking, the company is now covering another major segment of the intercity travel market. This gives passengers more flexibility when planning trips, as they can choose between different transport options within the same app.
Industry observers say this integration reflects a broader trend where mobility platforms are evolving into complete travel marketplaces rather than single-service apps.
Introductory Discounts for Users
To encourage early adoption of the service, Uber is offering promotional discounts for bus bookings made through its platform.
Users can receive a 25 percent discount of up to Rs 200 on their first intercity bus ticket booked through the app. In addition, a 10 percent discount of up to Rs 100 is available for the next three bookings.
These offers are intended to introduce existing Uber users to the new bus ticketing feature and encourage them to try the service for upcoming intercity trips.
Safety and Booking Features
The intercity bus booking feature also includes several safety and support tools available in Uber’s mobility platform. These include trip tracking, the ability to share travel details with contacts, and access to customer support.
To book a ticket, users can open the Uber app, select the intercity buses option, enter their departure and destination cities, view available buses, choose seats, and complete payment through digital payment methods.
By adding bus ticketing to its app, Uber is expanding its presence in India’s long-distance travel market and offering users another option for planning journeys between cities.
