New Delhi: Intercity travel platform zingbus has signed Memorandums of Understanding with 50 bus operators to facilitate the deployment of more than 200 premium and electric buses over the next 12 months, strengthening its network across South and West India.
The agreements were announced at Prawaas 5.0, a major gathering of India’s passenger transport industry. At the event, zingbus also received the Bharat Prawaas People’s Choice Award 2026 for Favourite Pan-India Bus Operator.
Under the partnership model, zingbus will provide its technology platform, digital distribution network and service standards, while participating operators will contribute their regional knowledge and fleet-management capabilities.
The arrangement is intended to help local operators reach a wider customer base, improve vehicle utilisation and offer a more consistent passenger experience across different routes. In an industry where reliability can occasionally feel as unpredictable as highway traffic, standardisation remains an important goal.
A substantial portion of the planned fleet will operate under zingbus Maxx, the company’s premium intercity travel service. Electric buses will also account for an important share of the expansion as the company increases its focus on cleaner mobility.
The initial deployment will target high-demand corridors connecting major cities including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune, Mumbai and Goa.
The expansion comes as India’s passenger transport sector increasingly focuses on premium services, electric mobility, road safety and digitalisation.
Addressing industry representatives at Prawaas 5.0, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari emphasised the need to improve passenger safety, accelerate the adoption of electric mobility and build higher-quality services for customers willing to pay for a better travel experience.
“Travellers are increasingly seeking greater comfort, reliability, safety and transparency from intercity bus services. These partnerships will help us scale premium and electric mobility while enabling regional operators to benefit from technology, stronger distribution and standardised service delivery,” said Mratunjay Beniwal, Co-founder and COO, zingbus.
The company plans to introduce more than 50 electric buses during 2026 and expand its electric fleet to 1,000 buses by 2030.
According to zingbus, live journey tracking, fleet monitoring, trained onboard personnel and safety protocols will remain central to the planned expansion.
The Bharat Prawaas Award recognised the company’s contribution to technology-led intercity mobility and its efforts to improve the passenger experience across India.
“Being recognised by people makes this award very special for us. It reflects the trust of travellers who choose zingbus for their journeys. This motivates us to keep raising the standard of intercity bus travel in India while continuing to work closely with operators who share our vision,” added Beniwal.
The agreements underline a broader shift in India’s intercity bus market, where technology platforms and regional fleet operators are increasingly working together to improve connectivity, service quality and operational efficiency. The success of the expansion, however, will ultimately be measured not by the number of buses announced, but by how reliably and safely they carry passengers across the country.
