Bus strike in Rajasthan troubles millions of passengers

February 26, 2026

Jaipur: The strike by private bus operators in Rajasthan continues for the third consecutive day. The closure of thousands of private buses across the state is affecting millions of passengers daily.

Bus operators claim that approximately 35,000 buses operating in Rajasthan are still off-road. However, this does not include public transport buses.

Passengers facing difficulties for Holi and Khatushyam Fair

The strike has had the greatest impact on people returning home for Holi and pilgrims going to the Khatushyam Fair. Rajasthanis living in other states, including Karnataka and Maharashtra, are finding it difficult to reach home for the festival.

Bus operators are continuously canceling bookings. Meanwhile, roadways buses are experiencing heavy rush, making it difficult to find seats on many routes.

Strike will continue if demands are not met

State President of the Private Bus Operators Association, Satyanarayan Sahu, stated that the strike will continue until the government accepts their demands.

He says that this agitation is causing revenue losses not only for the bus operators but also for the government. The government earns approximately 5 rupees per kilometer in tolls from buses, which has been halted due to the bus shutdown. Furthermore, VAT revenue on diesel is also being affected.

More than 1.5 million passengers affected daily

According to bus operators, approximately 1.5 million passengers travel daily on buses to and from Rajasthan. This includes passengers from several states, including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Assam.

These passengers had made advance bookings due to the festival season, but thousands of bookings are being cancelled due to the strike.